“Several leaders have been controlling cooperative societies since years and thus denying ordinary members an opportunity to work for the cooperative movement”, said Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh while addressing the Valedictory Function of the Birth Centenary of Laxmanrao Inamdar in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Singh warned that if this situation would not change, the number of cooperative bodies would reduce with serious consequences for the cooperative movement, he said.
According to sources, taking a cue from the speech of Prime Minister, Radha Mohan is said to have discussed the matter of cooperators grabbing posts again and again either directly or through proxy. Singh felt such leaders have made a mockery of co-op acts bending them to their petty considerations.
The source confided that the Modi-Singh team is working seriously to check this menace. Modi had said “merely holding a position in the co-operative structure does not make one a genuine cooperator. One needs to have selflessness and passion for the upliftment of poor to be called a cooperator, Modi had underlined in his inaugural address.
Recalling his experience of Gujarat Radha Mohan said, “When I recently visited Amreli district of Gujarat I spotted a rare example of cooperation and solidarity among the members of a cooperative society. They all would always sit together and democratically discuss plans and policies for strengthening their society”, he said.
Radha Mohan Singh said cooperatives can play an important role in schemes like Soil Health Card, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yozana.
Similarly, PACCS societies are playing an important role in providing credit to farmers and the NDA government has allocated a special budget for their computerization, he noted.
Prior to the event, technical sessions on Rural Cooperatives growth through Agri-Innovations and International Experience of Cooperative Models had been organized. About five panelists had shared their views on various topics.
Former Executive Director Reserve Bank of India V.S.Das underlined the need for an Umberalla organization in India, while Sahakar Bharati patron Satish Marathe called on cooperatives to diversify their business into health insurance which is mostly done by private companies.
ICA-AP Regional Director Balu Iyer gave a brief presentation on International Cooperative Alliance.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Sekhwat proposed a vote of thanks.
