A large delegation of Indian cooperators has gone to Vietnam to attend a function of COBI -the apex body that represents co-operative banks, urban cooperative banks, Land development bank and credit societies, claimed its Chairman G H Amin.
“We are going to attend a 3 day international function in Hanoi. As individuals we cannot meet the representatives of international banks so we hold such a meeting once a year to be able to exchange our ideas”, Amin said justifying the foreign trip.
He added about 20 cooperators including Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, Bijender Singh, Dilip Singhani, V R Patel and Sunil Singh are going as members of the delegation. Contact Mr BD Sharma MD of COBI to know the other names, he asked this correspondent.
But Amin hastened to add that the cost is not borne by the COBI but by the participants. This practice was started by Vishwanathan who was the Chairman before me. Even ICA representative is coming to participate in the conference, Amin added.
Last year the COBI had held a three day conference in Tashkent. Readers would note that Union cooperation ministry has written letter to apex co-op bodies to cut down on foreign travel amid a general refrain prevailing in the govt after the ascendance of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister.
Even senior officers of the rank of secretary have to wait for months to get clearance from the PMO when it comes to foreign travel. They are asked to justify the trip and prove its usefulness to the govt. Amin and Singhani are two senior BJP cooperators in the delegation.
