The 72nd All India Cooperative Week entered Day 5 across the country with a special focus on empowering youth, women and weaker sectors such as handicrafts, handloom, labour and fisheries through cooperative entrepreneurship.
As part of the nationwide observance, a programme was organised at Singtam Nagar Panchayat Hall in Gangtok District by the Cooperation Department, Gangtok, in collaboration with the Sikkim State Cooperative Union (SICUN).
The event began with a special tribute marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, followed by the ceremonial lamp-lighting by Chief Guest Smt. Sabina Rai, Ex-JRCS. In her address, she emphasized the need for greater youth participation in the cooperative movement and underscored transparency and accountability as key pillars for strengthening grassroots institutions.
Dr. Mangal Jit Rai, Chairman of SICUN, stated that cooperatives in Sikkim are emerging as important drivers of rural progress, especially in agriculture, dairy and women-led initiatives.
Additional Registrar B.P.H. Subba presented an overview of Gangtok District’s cooperative landscape, highlighting achievements such as computerized PACS, active dairy societies and FPOs, while stressing the need to revive non-functional societies.