Nashik conference kicks off amidst who’s who of cooperative sector

The Urban Cooperative Banks State Level Conference commenced in Nashik, Maharashtra, on a positive note, marked by the esteemed presence of Union Minister of State for Cooperation BL Verma and Union Minister Bharati Pawar. The two-day event garnered attendance from various dignitaries, including Cooperation Minister Dilip Walse Patil and other state ministers. Union Minister Amit Shah, who was scheduled to open the session could not come due to political upheavals in Bihar, sources add.

Notable figures in the cooperative sector, such as NCUI President Dileepbhai Sanghani and Nafcub President Jyotindra Mehta, among others, added fervor to the conference. The event, slated to conclude today with an address by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, saw enthusiastic participation from around 3000 cooperators associated with urban cooperative banks in Maharashtra.

Union Minister BL Verma, in his address, reassured participants of the center’s unwavering support to strengthen Maharashtra’s cooperative movement. He highlighted the initiatives undertaken by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, emphasizing the need to energize the cooperative movement nationwide.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Bharati Pawar emphasized the importance of supporting the Nashik District Cooperative Bank and its affiliated primary societies.

Maharashtra’s Cooperation Minister Dilip Walse Patil shed light on the challenges faced by cooperative institutions in the state and proposed the adoption of the CIBIL score platform for credit cooperatives, aligning them with mainstream banks.

Minister Patil underlined the significant contribution of the cooperative movement to the country’s economic development, calling for special attention to providing economic assistance to low-income sectors through cooperatives. He highlighted the collaborative efforts of central and state governments in this regard.

Addressing the event NCUI President Dileep Sanghani congratulated the organizing committee for empowering the cooperative movement. He said amid the transformative Amrit Kaal, the conference holds significance for cooperatives.

Acknowledging the role of the Ministry of Cooperation and the power of mantra “Prosperity through cooperation,” given by the PM, Sanghani said that the Ministry led by Amitbhai Shah has initiated several steps to strengthen the co-op movement in the country.

Sanghani said the government initiatives include allowing urban co-operative banks to open branches, offer doorstep banking, and reducing AEPS platform fees. A nodal officer at RBI facilitates regular interaction.

He said the Ministry has entrusted NCUI with standardized training modules, focusing on business development. Besides other initiatives, NCUI has introduced an online learning management system for cooperative education, he stated.

The event, organized with the support of Maharashtra Urban Cooperative Banks Federation (MUCBF), Sahakar Bharati, and various UCBs associations, showcased a united front for the cooperative sector’s growth. As the conference drew to a close, it left a lasting impact on the attendees, fostering optimism for the future of urban cooperative banks in Maharashtra.