It was the birthday of the Sahakar Bharati Chief Mr Jyotindra Mehta on Sunday. Family and friends have wished him a long and fulfilling life. His Face book wall is filled with cakes and flowers with people competing to wish him on the day.
Gujarat based Mehta is popularly known as Mamaji in the town of Rajkot-a hub of the cooperative movement. He is also heading the local UCB Rajkot Nagraik Sahakari Bank, besides being the head of the Gujarat chapter of NAFCUB.
Mild mannered and soft spoken Mehta is a committed cooperative soldier as is evident from several of his FB posts. In one of the recent posts he writes “Co operative is our DNA. You cannot change the DNA. All co operative workers should get together and raise their voice against privatisation be it in the banking sector or any other co operatives. It’s unique business model accepted worldwide.”
Reacting to a news item on Indian Cooperative titled “I rejected RBI proposal on conversion: Singh” Mehta was overwhelmed and thanked the Minister in these words “we are proud of our leader Shri Radha Mohanji”. Readers would recall that the entire cooperative sector was agitated over the RBI panel recommendations on conversion of UCBs into non-cooperative entities should they demand level playing field vis-a-vis the PSUs.
Mehta has been always been upholding high cooperative norms as is evident from his functioning at NCUI as a government nominated Governing Council member. Subject to accusation of being obstructionists, the govt nominees are usually not a sight for sore eyes for the Board members. But not Mehta as GC members confirm.
Indian Cooperative also joins others in wishing him a happy birthday!