In alignment with the provisions introduced under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2023, mandating every MSCS to appoint a Cooperative Information Officer (CIO), the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) has taken a significant step to empower these officials. NCUI has launched a comprehensive training program to familiarize CIOs with their roles and responsibilities, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability within their organizations.
The 4th batch of the CIO training program was inaugurated on 16th January 2025 at NCUI headquarters in New Delhi. Rabindra Kumar Agarwal, Additional Secretary and Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS), praised NCUI’s proactive approach in conceptualizing the program, calling it a timely initiative in light of the new MSCS Act requirements.
Agarwal commended the program’s detailed schedule and study materials, urging CIOs to embrace their roles with a forward-looking perspective to drive transparency, efficiency, and the evolution of cooperatives into Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs).
Sudhir Mahajan, Chief Executive of NCUI, expressed gratitude to CRCS and the Ministry of Cooperation for entrusting NCUI with this critical responsibility. He highlighted NCUI’s dedication to providing need-based education and training for cooperative stakeholders and applauded the successful organization of the CIO training programs.
Ritesh Dey, Executive Director of NCUI, detailed the program’s progress, noting the successful training of 137 CIOs across three batches and the plan to cover 400 MSCS by the end of the financial year. This initiative, he said, underlines its national significance in strengthening the cooperative movement.
The three-day training program, held from 16th to 18th January 2025, featured sessions by renowned experts. Monika Khanna, Joint Registrar in the office of CRCS, addressed legal compliance and cooperative elections. S. K. Wadkar elaborated on amendments in the MSCS Act and cooperative principles. V. K. Dubey discussed critical issues in membership and governance. CA Anurag enhanced participants’ financial literacy, and Yashank Kalyani provided hands-on demonstrations on CRCS portals and complaint filing.
The program concluded with a valedictory session led by Monika Khanna, who provided practical solutions to the challenges faced by MSCS, applauded the dedication of participants, and distributed certificates of achievement.
Ritesh Dey encouraged participants to align their efforts with the vision of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, emphasizing the importance of showcasing cooperative achievements.
The training received positive feedback from participants, who lauded its practical and insightful approach. A total of 32 CIOs from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi NCR attended this batch.
The 5th batch of the program is scheduled for 22nd to 24th January 2025 at Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu, with participants expected from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.
This initiative by NCUI reaffirms its commitment to capacity building, governance improvement, and the long-term sustainability of the cooperative sector.
