The Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank, in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Nagari Sahakari Banks’ Association, is hosting a State-Level Mahila Sahakar Conference starting today, January 10, and continuing till January 11, 2026, at Discover Resort, Neral, Raigad.
The two-day residential conference has been specially designed for women directors and chief executive officers of Urban Co-operative Banks and District Central Co-operative Banks, with the objective of strengthening leadership capacity, governance standards, regulatory compliance and preparedness for the rapidly evolving banking landscape.
The conference reflects the growing recognition of the pivotal role women play in advancing India’s cooperative banking movement. Greater participation of women in governance and leadership has helped strengthen institutional culture while expanding the reach of financial inclusion, particularly in microfinance and community-oriented banking.
Over the years, women-led cooperative institutions, including Maharashtra-based initiatives such as the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank, have demonstrated how women’s leadership can widen access to formal financial services for underserved and rural populations.
The first day of the conference will focus on leadership development, regulatory alignment and emerging challenges facing the cooperative banking sector. Senior officials from the Reserve Bank of India, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank will share insights on regulatory expectations, supervisory frameworks and compliance norms governing Urban Co-operative Banks.
Sessions will also address risk management practices, governance frameworks and the growing importance of digital and IT adoption, areas that regulators have consistently highlighted as critical for the stability and resilience of cooperative banks.
Key sessions on the opening day will be addressed by senior officials from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), including Smt. Ponnie Raji Radhakrishnan, along with presentations on the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank’s various schemes for UCBs and DCCBs by Ms. Sayali Bhoir, General Manager, MSC Bank. Experts from NABARD, including Ms. Samriti Bhagat, will also participate in the sessions.
These sessions will be followed by panel discussions aimed at encouraging practical knowledge-sharing and the exchange of real-world experiences among participants.
On the second day, MSC Bank Administrative Board Chairman Vidyadhar Anaskar will address a session on cooperative culture, core values, and ethics. Other key topics to be covered include the POSH Act-key provisions, the role of Artificial Intelligence in future banking, and related subjects.
Interactive sessions will be led by certified trainers, cyber law experts and experienced facilitators, enabling participants to gain practical insights relevant to their leadership roles.
Organisers emphasised that the conference is intended to be more than a conventional knowledge forum. It is envisioned as a collaborative platform for networking, capacity building and collective problem-solving.
By strengthening women’s leadership and governance roles within the cooperative banking ecosystem, the initiative aims to contribute to a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready financial sector in India.
