On the occasion of the International Co-operative Day this Saturday (tomorrow), Haryana seems to have got converted into India’s Cooperative Capital. Union Ministers, state Chief Minister, Haryana Assembly Speaker, Sahakar Bharati leaders and thousands of cooperators are assembling at Tejli Village in Yamunagar district of Haryana to observe the day with a vow to further the cooperative movement.
“Haryana Government is celebrating the 6th July as the International Co-operative Day where more than 10,000 cooperatives are likely to participate; I am also coming to Delhi and would go to Yamunanagar from there”, said senior Sahakar Bharati leader Satish Marathe, giving details of the event.
The high voltage event will be inaugurated by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and presided over by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal and Minister of State Ratan Lal Kataria would be the guests of honour. The show is slated to be co-chaired by State Cooperative Minister Manish Kumar Grover.
There are more than 25,000 active cooperatives in Haryana and over 38,000 cooperatives are registered. About 785 PACCS are in the state. There are 8 state level cooperative federations having 12,000 cooperatives as members.
Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation which sells its products under the brand name of Vita and several other top level cooperatives will participate in the event. Cooperatives will showcase their products as well as explain their policies through exhibition.
In a telephonic communication with Indian Cooperative Raghunath Kashyap Chairman of Haryana State Cooperative Development Federation (HARCOFED) said, “6th July will be celebrated as the International Cooperative Day. It will be a unique event. Cooperatives will celebrate the day with gusto”.
“For encouraging cooperatives, Haryana government will honor successful cooperatives working in the interest of community”, informed Kashyap on the phone.
He further said that it has been decided to constitute committees of various co-operative federations for successfully organizing various programs. Three cooperative societies, which have been performing well, will be honored in the function. On this occasion, Hafed will make an attractive welcome gate, he said.
Farmers should brand their products and increase their income by selling them. This will add credibility to their products and will get them a better value of products, he added.
Several co-op bodies observe the International Cooperative Day in their respective areas. NCUI, the apex body has also lined up an impressive programme on the occasion at its headquarters in Delhi where High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius, representative of ILO and ICA would be present. The theme of this year is “COOPS 4 DECENT WORK”.
