Speaking on the occasion of the release of the logo for the Cooperative Congress scheduled in February, Kerala minister for cooperation, Kadakampally Surendran promised to come up with a new co-op policy aimed at freeing co-ops from unbridled political interference.
The eighth edition of the Sahakarana Congress (Cooperative Congress) is likely to be inaugurated by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Kannur will host the event at the indoor stadium in Mundayad. This is for the first time that the event is coming to Kannur, reports TOI.
Addressing a press conference after releasing the logo of the Congress, the minister said the government is preparing a cooperative policy and the Congress will discuss it and a draft will be made based on the suggestions and inputs.
More than 3000 delegates are expected to attend the Congress. The Minister assured that the new policy would be aimed at freeing co-ops from uncontrolled political interference. The draft prepared would be introduced in the state Assembly, assured the Minister.
Experts of the cooperative sector both from India and abroad are expected to participate in the Congress. The Co-op Congress will also discuss the way forward for the diversification and modernization of the sector as well as its digitization.
Kerala co-ops have been in news as the govt intends to set up the Kerala Cooperative Bank by merging all district cooperative banks and state cooperative banks.
Many feel the merger of District Cooperative Banks will prove disastrous for the farmers. Instead of going for the merger, the state government should strengthen these Cooperative Banks”, they argue.
There are about 14 District Cooperative Banks in the state with a network of about 300 branches. Over 64 lakh customers are associated with them. There are about 6 thousand people working in these banks.
The state government has dissolved the boards of these District Cooperative Banks and appointed administrators to oversee their activities.