To strengthen and promote the cooperative movement in Arunachal Pradesh, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) conferred the Regional Award for Cooperative Excellence and Merit on nine cooperative societies of the state. The awards were presented during an event held at the Civil Secretariat in Itanagar.
The award ceremony was graced by Dr Sonal Swaroop, IAS, Secretary (Cooperation)-cum-Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, who attended as the Chief Guest. The event was held in the august presence of Michi Gombo, Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and Sandip Sankar Pawar, Deputy Director, NCDC Satellite Office, Naharlagun.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Swaroop underlined the critical role played by cooperative institutions in inclusive economic growth, particularly in geographically challenging and rural regions like Arunachal Pradesh. She said that cooperatives not only empower local communities but also act as instruments of self-reliance by promoting collective entrepreneurship, livelihood generation and financial inclusion.
The NCDC Regional Awards are aimed at recognising cooperative societies that have demonstrated excellence in governance, financial discipline, member participation and innovative practices. The nine award-winning societies were selected for their consistent performance and meaningful contribution to socio-economic development at the grassroots level.
Officials present at the ceremony noted that the recognition would motivate other cooperative societies in the state to improve transparency, efficiency and service delivery. The awards are also expected to encourage wider participation of farmers, artisans, self-help groups and youth in cooperative activities.
The event concluded with an interaction between officials and representatives of the award-winning societies, focusing on strengthening institutional capacity and leveraging NCDC support for future growth. The ceremony reaffirmed the commitment of both the state government and NCDC towards building a vibrant and resilient cooperative ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh.
