The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday announced that 3,353 vacant posts in Fair Price Shops under the Cooperation Department will soon be filled. The move is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its cooperative sector and improve public service delivery.

In an official release, the government outlined major achievements in the cooperative sector since 2021. It said crop loans worth ₹53,340 crore were given to over 66.24 lakh farmers. Gold loans amounting to ₹4,904 crore were waived for 11.70 lakh beneficiaries.

Further, ₹2,118 crore in loans were waived for 1.01 lakh women self-help groups (SHGs). The loan ceiling for SHGs was also raised from ₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh to enhance financial support.

To support allied agricultural activities, the government disbursed loans worth ₹6,372 crore to over 11.88 lakh farmers. Financial assistance was also extended to 47,221 differently-abled persons, 16,578 working women, 49,000 women entrepreneurs, and 4,494 folk artists.

The statement highlighted the success of the Annal Ambedkar Business Pioneer Scheme, through which 86 sanitation workers became entrepreneurs with the help of mechanised sewage cleaning vehicles.

Additionally, the government launched 70 new cooperative pharmacies and 1,000 Chief Minister’s Medical Stores across the state to ensure access to affordable medicines.

The release also noted that Tamil Nadu received multiple awards from the Union government for its performance in warehouse management and cooperative banking. These achievements, the government said, reflect the inclusive approach of the Dravidian model and establish Tamil Nadu as a leader in cooperative development in the country.