The apex body of co-operatives-NCUI celebrated International Women’s Day 2025 with great enthusiasm under the theme ‘Accelerate Action’ at its headquarters. The event brought together women cooperators from Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, and other states, recognizing and celebrating their significant contributions to the cooperative movement.
The celebration was graced by ICA-AP Chairman Dr. Chandra Pal Singh, NCUI Vice-President Bijender Singh, CE Sudhir Mahajan, Deputy CE Savitri Singh, ED Ved Prakash Setia, and several others. The NCUI auditorium was packed with women cooperators, reflecting their growing engagement in the sector.
In his inaugural address, Yadav highlighted the need for women to take a pledge to form and lead cooperatives, emphasizing that such initiatives would enhance their economic growth and increase their participation in the cooperative movement. He stressed the immense potential of women-led cooperatives in fostering financial independence and community development, urging more women to step forward and take leadership roles.
He also underscored the historical contributions of women in shaping India’s progress, citing examples from Maharani Laxmi Bai’s bravery to the contributions of countless unsung heroines. He encouraged women to take proactive steps to expand their presence in cooperatives and economic initiatives.
Shedding light on women’s current status in the cooperative sector, Yadav noted that while women make up 48% of India’s total population, there are approximately 25,000 women-led cooperatives in the country. Out of the 28 crore people associated with cooperatives directly or indirectly, women’s participation stands at 30%. He stressed the need to significantly increase this figure to ensure gender balance and inclusivity in the cooperative sector.
He also expressed gratitude to the Central Government for introducing reserved seats for women on cooperative boards, calling it a progressive step toward leadership opportunities for women in the sector.
NCUI Vice-President Bijender Singh emphasized the importance of gender equality and the need for more women in the cooperative movement. He acknowledged women’s crucial role in economic development and urged for stronger policies and initiatives to encourage women-led cooperatives and enhance their representation in decision-making processes.
NCUI Chief Executive Sudhir Mahajan highlighted the various initiatives of the NCUI Incubation Centre to
empower women in the cooperative sector. He stressed that capacity-building programs conducted by LINAC, NCCT, NCCE, VAMNICOM, and other cooperative institutes have significantly increased, equipping women with essential skills and knowledge to succeed in cooperatives.
NCUI Deputy CE Savitri Singh emphasized the significance of International Women’s Day in promoting gender equality in cooperatives. She stated that there are 24,000 women-led cooperatives across India, directly connecting around 55 lakh women. She urged more women to actively engage in the cooperative movement, strengthening financial independence and leadership.
As part of the celebrations, several distinguished women cooperators were felicitated, including, Sangita Sandhu, CEO, West Bengal State Cooperative Union, Alpa Ben Ramani, Director, Amreli District Cooperative Bank, Alpaba V Chudasama, Gujarat Mahila Credit Cooperative Society and other notable women leaders in cooperatives.
Additionally, a certificate distribution ceremony was held for graduates of the Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) Course from the NCUI Incubation Centre.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Ved Prakash Setia, Executive Director, NCUI.
