Cooperative credit structure is the single largest institutional credit delivery system in the State. It provides credit to the people particularly in rural areas at reasonable interest rate thereby reducing the dependency of the farmers on the informal credit source and usurious rate of interest. Geographically and culturally it is the most convenient institutional arrangement for availing the credit by farmers.

The cooperative credit structure in Tamil Nadu comprises of the following:

(A) Short term and medium term credit structure consisting of Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank at the state level, Central Cooperative Banks at the district level and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks at the village level.

(B) Long term rural credit structure consisting of Tamil Nadu Cooperative State Agriculture and Rural Development Bank at the state level and Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks at taluk/block level.

(C) Urban credit structure comprising of Cooperative Urban Banks located in the urban and semi urban areas and catering to the credit needs of their members and the public.

(A) Short Term Credit Structure

The Short Term Cooperative credit structure in Tamil Nadu is a three tier structure with Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank at State level with 45 branches, 23 District Central Cooperative Banks at the district level with 717 branches and 4474 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks at the grass root level.

(i) Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank (TNSACB) Chennai

The Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank is the federation of the District Central Cooperative Banks. Being the Apex Bank, it raises resources and channelises them through District Central Cooperative Banks for both agricultural and non-agricultural purpose. It also channelises the refinance provided by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) towards short term and medium term agriculture and allied sector loans to District Central Cooperative Banks.

As on 29.2.2008, the Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank has a share capital of Rs.61.07 crores including Government’s share of Rs.0.26 crore. It has the reserves of Rs.700.48 crores and deposits of Rs.3944.98 crores. Compared to the previous year’s level of reserves at Rs.517.95 crores and deposits at Rs.3263.50 crores, the growth in the reserves and the deposits in the current year have gone up by 35% and 21% respectively. The bank has earned a net profit of Rs.42.80 crores during 2007-2008 upto 29.2.2008.

The Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank maintains a fund called the Primary Cooperative Development Fund financed out of contribution of profit making Central Cooperative Banks and the Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank. The fund is utilized to strengthen the infrastructure facilities of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks in the State. As on 29.2.2008, Rs.29.84 crores is available in this account. A special scheme was launched by Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Kalaignar to rejuvenate about 1192 weak Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks with the help of this fund. Most of the societies in the above category had fallen dormant because of lack of resources and had stopped lending and other operations. To help them to restart lending, a special cash credit at the rate of Rs.20 lakhs per society is being provided by District Central Cooperative Banks at a concessional rate of interest and the difference between cost of funds and the concessional rate is being reimbursed to District Central Cooperative Banks from out of this fund. It is expected that these 1192 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks through this scheme will resume their normal operation of lending and to become financially viable in a course of 3 years, by securing breakeven level of business and through this, will offer adequate institutional credit to the farmers in their area of operation. As on 29.2.2008, 631 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks have been sanctioned with cash credit to the tune of Rs.126.20 crores and the entire 1192 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks will be covered under this scheme before April, 2008.

(ii) District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCB)

There are 23 District Central Cooperative Banks in the State with 717 branches mostly in rural areas to serve the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks and the rural public. The District Central Cooperative Banks raise resources through public deposits and also from Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank and channelise them through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks for agriculture and rural credit. In addition, they meet the credit needs of dairy, handlooms, sugar and such other affiliated cooperatives. They also lend directly to the public for non-agricultural purposes within the area of operation of their branches.

As on 26.3.2008, the District Central Cooperative Banks have extended credit to Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks to the tune of Rs.1323.20 crores for crop loan of which Rs.985.59 crores is from their own funds and Rs.337.61 crores from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development refinance.

The details of District Central Cooperative Banks’ activities are given below:-

(Rs. in crores)

* As on 29.2.2008

Compared to the last year, upto February 2008 the amounts of deposit have increased by 5.22%. Due to concerted efforts, better financial discipline and also adequate credit flow through waiver, as per final audit of the year 2006-2007, out of 12 District Central Cooperative Banks which were classified under Section 11(1) of Banking Regulation Act with negative net worth, 7 District Central Cooperative Banks have come out of this problem and it is expected that remaining 5 District Central Cooperative Banks also will record positive networth and come out of Section 11(1) by 31.3.2009. Efforts are being made to computerize all the branches of the District Central Cooperative Banks.

(iii) Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks (PACB)

In Tamil Nadu, there are 4474 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks which provide credit to the farmers, distribute inputs like fertilizers and also run outlets under Public Distribution System. These banks provide short term and medium term credit for agriculture and allied activities. The short term loans are repayable within a period of 12 to 15 months and the medium term loans are repayable within 3 to 5 years.

Crop loan is the prominent item of credit to the farmers by Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks, provided without collateral security upto 10 acres in respect of registered sugarcane growers and upto Rs.1 lakh in respect of other crops. The loan amount exceeding this limit is secured with mortgage of property or pledge of jewels. Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks also issue loans for other agricultural purposes like purchase of farm machineries and for non-agricultural purposes including loans for the purchase of consumer durables, housing loans, education loans and professional loans.

The details of the loans issued by these banks from 2004-05 are furnished below:

(Rs. In crores)

Considering the importance of increasing credit flow into the agriculture sector, Government has reduced the interest rate for the crop loans from 9% to 7% per annum from 2006-07, the interest differential being compensated by the Government. For the year 2006-07, Rs.18.28 crores was released and a sum of Rs.15.04 crores has been released for the year 2007-08 to the cooperatives as compensation to make up this interest subvention.

The Government is taking all efforts to inculcate the habit of financial discipline among the farmers. As a special measure, Government have announced further reduction of interest from 7% to 5% for all crop loans being repaid promptly by the farmers. This has been further reduced to 4% in 2008-09.

The Government lays emphasis on the timely disbursement of crop loan in adequate quantity. It is proposed to disburse Rs.1500 crores as crop loan during 2008-09. It is further proposed that the lending through Farmers Group will be encouraged by forming Joint Liability Groups which will benefit the farmers to get additional assistance by way of revolving fund to the tune of Rs.10 crores. This is expected to benefit the farmers in a great way to consolidate themselves and pool their resources in arranging their inputs supply, organizing cultivation activities and making joint efforts in marketing to fetch a better price for their produce. Ultimately this will pave way for consolidation of the farming activities by the farmers facilitating appropriate technological intervention for improving the productivity of the farm sector.

As a policy, this Government is not for liquidation of any Primary Agricultural Cooperative Bank which has been set up for the specific purpose of serving the farmers in their respective operational areas. Though liquidation notices were issued for 199 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks upto 2005-06, as a follow-up of the announcement made in the year 2006-07 to revive them, all out efforts have been made to revive them and bring them back to normalcy. The Government is happy to inform that out of 199 banks, 197 banks have already been revived and an amount of Rs.17.23 crores were issued as loans during 2006-07 to the members. During 2007-08, Rs.13.07 crores were disbursed as loans upto 29.2.2008. The efforts of the Government will continue for reviving the remaining two Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks.

Due to long years of neglect, several societies have been put into doldrums. The pathetic status of some of the societies have forced them not to pay even the salaries to their own employees for many months. Due to the efforts made by this Government, the condition of many of the societies have appreciably changed. Due to initiatives such as waiver of agricultural loan, revival of societies through the assistance from Primary Cooperative Development Fund (PCDF), subsidy for running public distribution system and through various other measures, the business of the societies have improved and the non payment of salary has been brought down significantly. The Government will continue its efforts to ensure that all the societies become financially viable and no employee in any of the societies goes without salary.

The Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks were permitted to mobilize deposits from the public for issue of loans and were unable to refund the deposits on due dates of maturity to the depositors by the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks. If this chronic problem continues then the confidence of the people will be shaken. This Government have made all out efforts to ensure that the depositors credibility is restored and their matured deposit amount with the interest is paid back to them. In this regard, an amount of Rs.170.62 crores as public deposit was pending on 30.6.2006 due to be refunded to the depositors. A promise was made in the Assembly that efforts will be taken to settle these deposits at the earliest. Due to the initiatives taken by the Government, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks were able to refund Rs.117.68 crores as on 29.2.2008 and further efforts are being made to refund the entire amount fully with due interest to the depositors.

This Government considers that Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks are the fulcrum on which integrated package of services such as credit, insurance, inputs, marketing and extension can be delivered to the farmers. Recognising the importance of increasing productivity in agricultural sector as envisaged in the XI Five Year Plan, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks will be actively engaged in provision of integrated service to the farmers and serve as a point of dissemination of the technology and the improved cultivation practices. It is expected to increase the prosperity of farmers by availing better services particularly in the area of technological intervention. In this process, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks will actively collaborate with Agriculture Department and the Research & Development organisations and provide all inputs and services under one roof.

The Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks will also act as Paddy Procurement Centres on behalf of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and will procure paddy at the minimum support price announced by the Government in the non delta areas apart from Direct Purchase Centres operated by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks will also assist the Cooperative Marketing Societies, Tamil Nadu Cooperative Marketing Federation and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to procure the agricultural produce directly from the farmers. Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks will expand their produce pledge loan operations substantially to prevent distress sale by the farmers during peak harvest. A target of Rs. 100 crores will be set for disbursal under produce pledge loan by Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks in 2008- 09.

Most of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks are operating under manual system of record maintenance and face a serious threat from the new generation banks using latest banking technology to penetrate the rural areas. To counter such threat, state-of-art banking technology will be introduced and all the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks will be computerized by the end of 2008.

Long Term Cooperative Credit Structure consists of Apex Bank viz., Tamil Nadu Cooperative State Agriculture and Rural Development Bank, Chennai and 180 Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks at taluk/block levels. These credit institutions are providing investment credit to the members for activities like minor irrigation, horticulture, plantation crops and other agriculture and allied sectors.

(i) Tamil Nadu Cooperative State Agriculture & Rural Development Bank (TNCSARDB)

The Tamil Nadu Cooperative State Agriculture and Rural Development Bank raises the funds necessary for its lending by floating ordinary and special development debentures. As the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development refinance could not be availed from 2004, due to National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development’s insistence on automatic debit mechanism, Tamil Nadu Cooperative State Agriculture and Rural Development Bank could not make available required resources to Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks for lending to agricultural sector. As on today the Bank is extending small quantum of loans for Non-Farm Sector using its own resources. As on 29.2.2008, the share capital of the Bank stood at Rs. 40.29 crores and reserves Rs.566.10 crores and deposits Rs.1.19 crores. Due to virtual suspension of lending operations, the bank is in cumulative loss of Rs.143.84 crores as on 29.2.08.

(ii) Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (PCARDB)

There are 180 Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks at taluk/block levels. The Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks provide long term credit for purposes like minor irrigation, land development, purchase of agricultural machineries, horticulture, animal husbandry and other allied activities. The period of repayment of such loans ranges from 5 to 15 years.

Due to non-availability of refinance from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, the lending activity by these Banks is practically nil for the last four years. During 2007-08, efforts were made to revive the activities of Tamil Nadu Cooperative State Agriculture and Rural Development Bank and Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks by mobilizing resources through collection of overdues in Non-Farm Sector. From 1.4.2007 till 29.2.2008, Rs.72.91 crores was collected as against the overdue of Rs.278.43 crores under the Non-Farm Sector. Further through waiver, an amount of Rs.42.45 crores each for the year 2006-07 and 2007-08 were released to the long term credit structure as waiver compensation. This has increased the liquidity of both Tamil Nadu Cooperative State Agriculture and Rural Development Bank and Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks.

As a result, during 2007-08, the Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks have again started lending for the Non-Farm Sector including Jewel Loans. The Government will make all efforts to revive them by arranging refinance from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development during 2008-09. Activities like horticulture, organic farming, hi-tech farming, precision farming, micro irrigation project based activities like floriculture, cultivation of medicinal plants, plantations in waste land and farm mechanization will be given priority under agricultural investment credit during 2008-09.

Urban Cooperative Banks provide banking and credit facilities to urban and semi urban population. As of now 120 Urban Cooperative Banks are functioning in the State. They mobilize deposits from the public and extend credit facilities for specified purposes. Their lending operations include provision of credit facilities to small traders, artisans and persons belonging to low and middle income group for purposes ranging from housing, business, education, consumer and other non-farm sector activities. During 2007-08, they have issued working capital and term loans to the extent of Rs.2144.29 crores. The deposit position in the Urban Cooperative Banks is Rs.2592.29 crores as on 29.2.2008 compared to Rs.2448.19 crores as on 31.3.2007. The Urban Cooperative Banks are expected to issue not less than 60% of their total lending to priority sector and to ensure that at least 25% of the priority sector lending is issued to the weaker section of the community.

(i) Waiver of agricultural loans

The unprecedented move of the Government to waive the entire crop loan outstanding in the Cooperative Banks as on 31.3.2006 have benefited lakhs of farmers to break the debt trap besides giving a new lease of life to the cooperative credit institutions. Government have ordered to compensate the amount of waiver of agricultural loan in five equal instalments starting from 2006-07. So far waiver certificates have been issued to 2281617 farmers. The amount released so far to compensate the waiver of loan is as below:

(Rs. in crores)

Following this path breaking efforts of the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Government of India has now made an announcement of massive agricultural loan waiver to the extent of Rs.60,000 crores during 2008-09 budget. This laudable initiative taken by the Government of India to redeem the farm sector from the stagnation is expected to trigger further growth in agricultural sector. It is expected that this loan waiver announced by the Government of India will be fully extended to Tamil Nadu and the amount released already by the Government of Tamil Nadu as loan waiver will be fully compensated by the Government of India on the eligible components.

(ii) Interest subvention for crop loan

The crop loan has been extended with the concessional rate of interest by reducing the effective rate of lending from 9% to 7% with effect from 2006-07. Further to imbibe the discipline of better repayment among the farmers, the Government of Tamil Nadu has ordered to give further interest subvention @ 2% from 2007-08 so that the effective rate of lending of crop loan to the farmers who are prompt in repaying the loans will be 5%. During 2008-09 budget, the Government have further reduced this rate to 4% for crop loan lending.

(iii) Interest reduction for Non-Farm Sector Loans

The Government have ordered to reduce the rate of interest to12% on all the outstanding non-farm sector loans as on 31.3.2001 availed from the cooperative credit institutions besides completely waiving the penal interest as a one time measure to wipe out the overdues. Under this scheme, the borrower has to remit 25% of the outstanding and avail the concessions extended and pay the remaining 75% within the stipulated period. In order to encourage the repayment, the scheme which originally ended on 31.3.2007 extended upto 31.3.2008 under various spells. Under this scheme upto 29.2.2008, 113252 beneficiaries availed the scheme and paid the dues. The benefit to the extent of Rs. 96.02 crores were passed on to these beneficiaries.

(iv) Jewel Loans

The cooperative banks issue loans on the pledge of jewels both for agriculture and non-agriculture purposes. The jewel loans are more popular among the public and banks are more secure and borrowing is hassle free for the beneficiaries. During 2007-08, Rs.8409.40 crores was disbursed as Jewel Loan upto 29.2.2008.

(v) Kisan Credit Card Scheme

The Kisan Credit Card Scheme is being implemented to provide timely credit to the farmers so that delay in disbursement of credit is minimized. As on 29.2.2008, the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks have issued Kisan Credit Cards to 17.13 lakh farmer members.

(vi) Credit supply to weaker sections

The Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks are paying special attention to meet the credit needs of weaker sections. NABARD has stipulated to extend not less than 30% of short term lending by cooperatives to small farmers who own or cultivate less than 5 acres. Further, it is targeted to extend 14% of the quantum of loan issued under short term loans and 30% under medium term loans to the members belonging to Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe.

(vii) Micro Credit Scheme

The District Central Cooperative Banks and Urban Cooperative Banks are implementing this unique scheme to benefit marginalized small and petty merchants and street vendors engaged in the business of selling flowers, vegetables, fruits and running petty shops. They are the most vulnerable group for exploitation by usurious money lenders. Their credit requirements are very small but critical. This scheme which was launched by this Government has been amplified and streamlined over the years. Under the scheme the loan amount upto Rs.5000/- is being provided without any security. It is proposed to improve the scheme further by issuing credit card to such beneficiaries and organize them as a self help group. During 2007-08 upto 29.2.2008, a sum of Rs. 27.79 crores has been issued to 67288 beneficiaries. It is proposed to issue such loan for Rs.50 crores during 2008-09.

(viii) Assistance to Self Help Groups

Lending through self help groups is considered extremely effective to ensure financial inclusion. It is also beneficial to the banks in terms of better repayment and lower transaction cost. Under various schemes and Government sponsored programmes, lending is extended through self help groups. During 2007-08, cooperative institutions have issued loans to the tune of Rs.170.13 crores to self help groups upto 29.2.2008. It is proposed to lend Rs.200 crores during 2008-09.

(ix) Women Entrepreneur Loan Scheme

The District Central Cooperative Banks and Urban Cooperative Banks are providing loans upto Rs.10 lakhs repayable in 60 monthly instalments at 12% interest to women entrepreneurs to start small industries and to take up service activities. During 2007-08, a sum of Rs.9.96 crores has been disbursed to 4848 women entrepreneurs till 29.02.2008.

(x) Working Women Loan Scheme

Under this scheme, the District Central Cooperative Banks and Urban Cooperative Banks are issuing loans upto Rs.1.00 lakh at an interest rate of 12% per annum to working women drawing monthly income. This loan is repayable in 36 instalments. As many as 5063 women beneficiaries were benefited to the extent of Rs.11.81 crores during 2007-2008 upto 29.2.2008.

(xi) Maternity Loan Scheme

Cooperative credit institutions are issuing maternity loan to pregnant women upto Rs.2000/- at an interest of 11%. During 2007-2008, a sum of Rs.0.39 crores has been disbursed to 1929 women beneficiaries upto 29.2.2008.

(xii) Professional Loan

The District Central Cooperative Banks are extending professional loan to doctors and engineers upto Rs.10 lakhs at an interest rate of 12% per annum. This loan is repayable over a period of 15 years.

(xiii) Interest free share capital loan to SC/ST members

In order to enhance the borrowing power of SC/ST members, interest free share capital loan is provided every year. During 2007-08, a sum of Rs.20 lakhs have been provided to 8000 SC/ST members of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks @ Rs.250/- per member and a sum of Rs.5 lakhs have been provided to 1000 SC/ST members of Urban Cooperative Banks @ Rs.500 per member.

(xiv) Interest free share capital loan to women members

The borrowing power of the members in the cooperative banks needs to be enhanced. This inevitably requires adequate step up in the share capital. Considering the poor financial condition of the rural women particularly to those belonging to weaker sections, the Government is providing interest free share capital loan as the normal level of borrowing is limited to 20 to 40 times of the share capital investment. This amount is repayable in five instalments commencing from the succeeding year in which loan is sanctioned.

The details of the share capital assistance provided during 2007-08 are furnished below:

(Rs. in lakhs)

It is proposed to extend the scheme of interest free share capital loan to the women members of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks, Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks and Urban Cooperative Banks and physically handicapped persons during 2008 –09 also. Accordingly, it is proposed to issue interest free share capital loan to 2000 women members of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks at the rate of Rs. 500/-, five hundred women members of Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks at the rate of Rs. 1000/- and thousand women members of Cooperative Urban Banks at the rate of Rs. 500/- and 1000 physically handicapped persons at the rate of Rs. 500/- through the above banks.