NCUI organized the Central Zone Co-op Conference in Uttarakhand’s Mussoorie last week in which delegates from several states participated and discussed challenges facing cooperatives in their respective areas. Besides, NCUI President and ICA AP’s Chairman, several important leaders and officials of Uttarakhand were present on this occasion.
A day earlier, NCUI held its GC meeting in Uttarakhand. The appointment of Mrs Savitri Singh as the Deputy Chief Executive was confirmed in the meeting. Talking to the Indian Cooperative NCUI President Dileep Sanghani said that holding GC meetings across India would help us connect to the people at the grassroot level.
Inaugurating the Conference Ganesh Joshi, State Agriculture Minister said that the cooperative societies should involve more women in their functioning which can be ensured by forming women cooperatives. He said that in Uttarakhand, there are more than 60,000 SHGs, with which more than 6 lakh women are associated.
Dileep Sanghani, President, NCUI, speaking on the occasion, said that the states in the Central Zone have rich natural resources, and the cooperatives in the Central Zone are doing good work. He noted that 2023 has been declared as the International Year of Millets, and cooperatives can play an important lead role in increasing the production of millets. The NCUI President further stated that with the help of cooperatives, the benefits of the government schemes can reach the masses.
Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President ICA-AP, speaking on the occasion, requested Agriculture Minister, UP, to give due recognition to cooperatives in the school educational syllabus by having a dedicated chapter on cooperatives.
Yadav further emphasized the importance of training of Chief Executives/Board of Directors of cooperatives. Dr. Yadav said that with the formation of multi state cooperative societies of exports, now cooperatives, more particularly, PACS should manufacture quality products.
BL Meena, Principal Secretary, Cooperative Department, UP, stated that Uttar Pradesh has adopted byelaws of PACS, which will enable these societies to undertake many functional activities. He further said that cooperatives have set up godowns in the state. The Principal Secretary said that in UP, cooperatives have played an important role in employment generation.
Earlier, Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, Chief Executive, NCUI, highlighted the new initiatives of NCUI ? NCUI Haat, NCUI Incubation Centre, starting of Cooperative Entrepreneurship Development Cell, soon-to-start e-commerce platform and Cooperative Resource Centre with focus on cooperative training modules of each sector etc
The Central Zone Conference was attended by key functionaries from the cooperatives from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. The objective of the zonal conferences organized by NCUI is to take a stock of the problems and issues faced by cooperatives in each zone, and thereafter formulate effective action-plans.
Dr. Bijender Singh, Chairman, NAFED, proposed a vote of thanks on the occasion. Ved Prakash Setia, Executive Director, NCUI, moderated the session.
