Corridors of power in Delhi are abuzz with rumors that the ruling BJP will soon revive its almost defunct Cooperative Cell. The news finds credence as BJP leaders connected to the cooperative field have recently held a brainstorming session on the issue.
Those present included National General Secretary Ram Lal, Vice President Shyam Jaju, Nafed nominee Ashok Thakur, senior cooperator Bhanvar Singh Sekhawat, NLCF Director Ashok Dabas and others. The meeting took place at BJP’s headquarters in Delhi.
“It was an attempt to increase BJP activities in the cooperative sector as we believe cooperative is the most important medium for reaching out to rural areas. As it was presided over by our general secretary Ram Lal, you could gauge its importance”, said Ashok Thakur whom BJP has appointed as the government nominee in the beleaguered co-op Nafed.
BJP cooperators who do not wish to be named often complain of lack of interest among senior leaders in cooperative matters. The Cell which was dissolved earlier is yet to be reconstituted though more than two years have elapsed since the Modi govt assumed office.
Shyam Jaju- a rather reluctant man is supposed to oversee the cooperative cell but due to his pressing preoccupations as Vice-President of BJP, cooperative usually lies at the bottom of his list of priorities.
Addressing the meeting Shyam jaju said government schemes should be run through cooperatives so that the benefits of the schemes reach to the people at the grass roots level. Cooperatives are playing an important role in improving the standard of living of the poor, he is believed to have conveyed to his team.
The meeting lasted three hours where every leader shared his views freely, commented the source. There were about 26 leaders and close to 10 states were represented through them, he added.
When Indian Cooperative asked Ashok Thakur to share details on the meeting, he said a plan for the reconstitution of the BJP Co-op Cell is in the works and this was the first move in the direction. “We felt there is an urgent need to organize training programs for cooperators in the BJP fold. We also deliberated on the issue how to benefit farmers through cooperatives, he added.
Without referring to BJP leaders’ apathy for the cooperative movement Thakur however conceded that after the BJP government took oath in May 2014 it was the first meeting that has taken place.
Observers of the cooperative scene say it is typical of political parties to control co-ops once it comes to power. Congress did so in the past putting people in important positions in most of the national cooperative bodies with leaning towards the Party.
The BJP has, however, been noticeably different from the Congress but this is being blamed on the party’s indifference to the cooperative sector.
