An international programme on “Cooperative Governance for CEOs and Senior Executives” kicked off at The Gandhigram Rural Institute, bringing together cooperative leaders from across South Asia to strengthen governance and leadership practices.
Jointly organised by National Cooperative Union of India, Centre for International Cooperation and Training in Agricultural Banking, and GRI, the four-day programme (March 24–27) has attracted 29 participants from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India.
The inaugural session began with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony. Dr. C. Pitchai welcomed participants, while Dr. K. Ravichandran outlined the programme’s focus on cooperative governance, best practices, and modern management tools. In his presidential address, Dr. N. Panchanatham emphasized the critical role of cooperatives in driving inclusive growth, rural development, and community resilience.
Although Siddharth Jain could not attend due to exigencies, his message, delivered by Mrs. Sandhya Kapoor, reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to transparent, accountable, and member-driven cooperatives under the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi.”
The event also saw the release of key publications, including course material and works on India’s cooperative movement. With participation from multiple countries, the programme is set to serve as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, peer learning, and strengthening governance standards in the cooperative sector.