Co-op sector stands stunned as Patel and Dr Saxena succumb to Covid 19

Spreading its tentacles far and wide, the dangerous Covid 19 Virus on Saturday killed two senior cooperators in the country—Kribhco’s former Chairman V R Patel and IFFCO’s former Director of Cooperative Relations, Dr G N Saxena.

The news of Vaghajibhai’s demise spread like a wild-fire. His admirers and well-wishers expressed shock and dismay on social media as soon as Kribhco’s MD Rajan Choudhary shared the news.

Kribhco MD Rajan Chowdhary wrote “Very sad news! Our Ex-Chairman Shri Vaghajibhai Boda succumbed to COVID-19 today (24 April).” Biscomaun Chairman Sunil Singh, who has worked with Patel in the Kribhco Board in the past, offered tributes to the departed soul on behalf of Biscomaun and state of Bihar.

Talking to Indian Cooperative, the current Chairman of Kribhco Dr Chandra Pal Singn Yadav expressed shock and dismay at the news of the death of VR Patel. “He had a long association with Kribhco as its Director, Vice Chairman and Chairman. He was an upright person fully devoted to the cause of co-operative”, said Chandra Pal.

Chandra Pal also revealed that Vaghajibhai Boda was instrumental in establishing many cooperative societies in Gujarat and nurtured them to success.

The news of Dr G N Saxena’s passing away also came as a bombshell for his well-wishers. It was Dr Saxena’s wife, who was more critical till Thursday evening and Saxena, though himself Covid positive, was taking care of her. His two daughters were around to take care of him and his wife but luck had something else in the store for Doctor Saheb.

IFFCO’s Doctor Mrs Jain was monitoring the health of Saxena’s family and had also advised him to get admitted along with his wife in a room which was fitted with Covid-care facilities and which was arranged after great difficulties in Gurugram.

On Friday evening, sources say, Dr Saxena promised Dr Jain that Saturday morning he would get admitted but he could not survive the night and breathed his last at his home in Hauzkhas Enclave, Delhi. Dr Saxena was cremated in Lodhi Road crematorium with just two daughters and IFFCO’s security staff in attendance. What an end of a stellar personality!

Shocked MD of IFFCO Dr U S Awasthi, who is in Jordon wanted to keep prayer meeting for Dr Saxena on Sunday at the IFFCO headquarters but his associates advised him against this in the given situation.

Dr Saxena was a name to reckon with at IFFCO who enjoyed limitless trust of MD Dr Awasthi. He is also credited with working hard in the matter of the return of shares to the govt. “Dr Saxena had a role to play in the tag which you see today beneath the IFFCO’s logo “Wholly owned by co-operatives”, reminded an IFFCO official to this correspondent.