India, Sept. 11 -- Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday said that the cooperative method is the gateway to making the nation and the state self-reliant and strong. The state government is committed to connecting cooperatives with the common people so that a major change can be brought about in their standard of living, he added. Sharma said that work is being done to establish a Gramin Sahkari Sangh (GSS) in every panchayat of the state to link them with cooperatives. This will make it easier for farmers to get seeds and fertilisers. Addressing the national convention of Urban Co-operative Banks organised under the joint aegis of Sahakar Bharati and the Department of Cooperatives on Wednesday, he said urban co-operative banks deeply understand the needs of local communities. These banks have played an important role in providing easy loans to small entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, artisans, and middle-class families. They have emerged as key drivers of economic empowerment. He informed that there are currently 236 branches of such banks operating in the state, with more than 4.5 lakh members. The CM said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country's cooperative sector is going through its golden era. On his initiative, the Ministry of Cooperation was established in 2021 to realize the vision of "Prosperity through Cooperatives". Today, there has been significant improvement in NPAs of cooperative banks, and quality of services has improved through new technologies. A transparent grievance redressal system has also been implemented. Now strict action is taken against corruption and irregularities, the CM said. Minister of State for Cooperatives (Independent Charge), Gautam Kumar, said that under the leadership of the chief minister, the state is reaching new heights of development. In the field of cooperatives, Rajasthan is among the leading states in the country in terms of innovations. He said that the cooperative movement will play an important role in realising the vision of a developed India. RBI Director Satish Marathe said that the role of cooperative banks in the country's economy is becoming increasingly important. Urban cooperative banks are a powerful means of financial inclusion for both rural and urban consumers, through which small traders, the middle class, and entrepreneurs are easily getting financial support. Sharma said that the state government has brought in the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Bill 2025 against forced religious conversions, which was passed by the Assembly on Tuesday....