National Cooperative Union of India has not received the annual grant from the central government; usually by this time in a year it receives the grant. Informed sources say the govt has some queries in the matter but NCCT – the NCUI’s training arm has yet to answer them.
“I had met the Central Registrar last week and he promised to release the fund soon”, said N Satyanarayan when Indian Cooperative raised the issue with him. A lack of communication between us and the govt is not the issue ”, he clarified.
However, knowledgeable sources blame the delay on the NCCT. At least, thrice the govt has written letters asking the NCCT to classify expenses incurred on the training of SC and ST but the NCCT has perhaps not done its homework, add sources.
Sources also informed that it is perfunctory of govt to assess how much is spent on the cause of SC and ST. Though it is a routine matter yet it is crucial so far as release of fund is required.
NCCT Secretary Mohan Mishra expressed complete ignorance of the matter. Which SC/ST fund? I do not understand what you are talking about, he said. He also denied receiving any communication from the Ministry on the issue.
Ministry source said “talk to A K Mishra the Chief Director he would give you details of communications sent to both NCCT as well as NCUI on the issue.”
Sources say the accounts of the NCUI and the NCCT are clubbed together and the delay on the part of the latter is likely to delay the fund for the former as well. It is logical as the NCCT is not an independent body and its budget is approved only by the AGM of the NCUI, said a GC member.
”NCUI’s requirements for fund are small – roughly about Rs 1.20 crore that takes care of salaries etc. Fund from the ministry is utilized in Field Projects and in the Junior Cooperative Training Institutes, said its Chief Executive.
We have taken the ministry’s insistence on getting self-reliant seriously and have launched several new initiatives to
earn money. A correspondence course with Fishcopfed is a case in point; in 5 years of time we hope to achieve break-even”, he underlined.
Money aside what is more important is achieving the objective for which the NCUI came into being. We are mainly focusing on the goal of strengthening the cooperative movement through training cooperative professionals. We have annual expenses of Rs 5-6 crore which we can manage but the challenge of taking co-operative movement to the next level remains daunting indeed ”, Satyanarayan said with a touch of philosophy.
