On November 16, 2024, the United Thrift and Credit Cooperative Societies Federation of Delhi Limited marked a significant milestone by inaugurating its newly constructed office at the Naraina Vihar Shopping Complex. The event was attended by prominent leaders and dignitaries from India’s cooperative movement. Dilip Bhai Sanghani, Chairman of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) and IFFCO, presided as the Chief Guest.
Other distinguished attendees included Yogesh Sharma, CEO of the National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies (NAFCUB); Vishweshwar Singh, Deputy Managing Director of Delhi State Cooperative Bank; Sunil Gupta, President of the Federation; Vishnu Pal Bansal, General Secretary; Shiv Shankar Gupta, Treasurer; Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Vice President; and leaders from organizations such as the Handloom Cooperative Federation and the Delhi State Cooperative Bank Federation.
Representatives from various credit cooperative societies, employees, and political figures such as Prof. Balwan Gautam, Head of Sahakar Bharati Delhi, and Sunil Goyal, Convener of the BJP Delhi Cooperative Cell, were also present.
The inauguration ceremony commenced with the official ribbon-cutting by Dilip Bhai Sanghani. Addressing the gathering, Sanghani expressed his admiration for the Federation’s rapid progress, achieving the construction of a dedicated office within just five years of its establishment.
He emphasized that the new office would strengthen Delhi’s cooperative movement and provide a unified platform for addressing the challenges faced by cooperative societies. Sanghani also advocated for extending government financial support schemes, currently offered through nationalized and private banks, to cooperative banks and credit societies to enhance their growth and business potential.
In his speech, Federation President Sunil Gupta reflected on the organization’s journey. He highlighted its efforts in organizing over 60 cooperative programs and addressing long-pending issues of Delhi’s cooperative societies. He emphasized the significance of the new office in promoting collaborative problem-solving, providing training to cooperative directors and employees, and fostering a more robust cooperative ecosystem.
Gupta also voiced concerns over the absence of a Delhi State Cooperative Development Board, lack of cooperative policy reforms, and the long-pending amendments to the Delhi Cooperative Act. Stressing the importance of political support, he called upon cooperative societies to back political parties that prioritize the sector in their election manifestos.
The Federation’s General Secretary, Vishnu Pal Bansal, outlined the features of the new office, which includes a boardroom, a reception area, and a training hall equipped for modern, technology-driven skill development programs. Monthly training sessions will be conducted to empower cooperative members and employees with the latest industry knowledge and operational skills.
NAFCUB CEO Yogesh Sharma lauded the Federation’s efforts in Delhi and underscored the need for state-level cooperative federations across India to emulate this model. He assured NAFCUB’s full support in facilitating cooperative development at the grassroots level.
In his concluding remarks, Vice President Pravesh Kumar Gupta extended heartfelt gratitude to all the dignitaries, members, and attendees for their participation. He reiterated the Federation’s commitment to strengthening the cooperative movement in Delhi through effective leadership, training, and collaboration.
The newly inaugurated office symbolizes a significant step forward for Delhi’s cooperative societies, providing a centralized hub for their activities and a robust platform to address their challenges collectively.
