Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation and MD of NCDC visited the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) in Pune on May 23 and reviewed different activities being carried out by the premier co-op institution.
Dr. Hema Yadav, Director of VAMNICOM, welcomed him and along with her team provided a comprehensive overview of the institute’s seven centers and their diverse activities. In the fiscal year 2023-24, VAMNICOM conducted 274 training programs, reaching 18,468 participants. The action plan for 2024-25 was also discussed.
Hema highlighted the 100% placement success of the 30th batch of the Post-Graduation Diploma in Agribusiness Management (PGDM-ABM) course and the completion of the 57th batch of the Post Graduate Diploma in Cooperative Business Management (PGDCBM) program, specialized for in-service cooperative sector personnel.
During his visit, Bansal interacted with the faculty and staff to better understand their work. He discussed the one-day program on the Ministry of Cooperation’s initiatives for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and offered suggestions for its enhancement. He emphasized the importance of grassroots-level penetration of the cooperative movement to strengthen PACS members, particularly farmers.
Bansal underscored the need for increased research in the cooperative sector, leveraging successful cooperatives to develop innovative and sustainable solutions. He also stressed the importance of VAMNICOM providing consultancy and advisory services.
Present at the meeting were Col. Vinit Narayan from the Regional Office Pune, NCDC, J.E. Patki, In-charge Director of ICM Pune, as well as VAMNICOM faculty members, research officers, and academic associates.
In a release Vamnicom says “Pankaj Kumar Bansal’s visit marked a significant milestone for VAMNICOM, reinforcing its pivotal role in cooperative education and training. His guidance and suggestions are expected to drive future initiatives, enhancing the effectiveness and reach of cooperative training programs across the country.”
It bears recalling that the VAMNICOM operates under the National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT) and is promoted by the Ministry of Cooperation. It is the premier institute responsible for training and developing personnel in India’s cooperative sector.
Dr. A.K. Asthana, Registrar of VAMNICOM, facilitated the campus visit.
