The emergence of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister has suddenly galvanized the cooperative leaders of the nation and they see in him a messiah for the sector.
India will grow no doubt but cooperatives would grow too, said G H Amin, Vice Chairman of NCUI, the apex cooperative body. He has a penchant for speedy decisions and quick disposal of issues, Amin added.
Some of the cooperators have expressed their reactions in the words that follow:
G H Amin NCUI:
Modi knows cooperatives from close quarters and knows that to uplift the masses it is one of the viable tools. I talked to him after the results and after he came back from Delhi he did not forget to mention about the role of cooperatives in his scheme of things.
Lakhan Lal Sahu Member, GC (NCUI):
I toured with Modi during election campaigning in Chattisgarh and he was greatly appreciative of cooperative model. Problems plaguing the cooperative sector will now go away, I have faith in Modi’s vision.
R S Sodhi, MD GCMMF(AMUL):
Good for the nation and the producers organizations like Amul
Dr Dinesh, Chief Executive, NCUI:
We expect tax exemption for cooperatives; reserve certain sectors for cooperatives; provide policy support for introducing cooperatives in schools curicculums and colleges and help us create a favorable environment for the growth of cooperatives
Mukund Abhyankar, President NAFCUB:
We cooperators are extremely hopeful that with appropriate policies in financial, industrial and commercial sectors, the new govt shall recognize cooperative sector as important as it will do the public and private sector. We are also looking forward to a new finance minister who bears no prejudice against the cooperative banking sector.
Vidyadhar Anaskar:
We welcome the new govt and expect that for the promotion of co-operative banking sector they should again allow the IT exemption U/S 80 P of the I T Act. They shall not treat cooperative banks on a par with commercial banks. In fact we need this sector for financial inclusion hence this new govt shall adopt a liberal attitude for the co-op banking sector.
Laxmi Das, Chairman Kangra Bank Delhi:
People have given a decisive verdict. The new govt has to fulfill the expectations of the electorate.The cooperative movement has long standing issues that require immediate attention otherwise its growth can get hampered.
Konkodi Padmanabha, Chairman Campco:
Modi is a very able leader. I am the President of Arcanut co-operative society and about 10 crore people are associated with arcanut farming. The UPA govt petitioned for the ban of arcanut in the Supreme Court and we had requested Modi to withdraw the petition once he assumes power. He had promised us the same and we would now request him again. In this coastal region of Andhra we only voted for Modi and Congress was literally wiped out.
Jyotinder Mehta, President GUJFED:
Modiji knows cooperatives and he has helped it grow in the state. Women empowerment, one of his dreams could be fulfilled through cooperatives only. We also have a special relation with him as he has a saving bank account with the Rajkot Sahkari bank, of which I am the Chairman.
I want him to help us break-free from the Income Tax net. And he should ensure such cooperative acts which are enabling, simple, non-interfering and such that the middle class draws solace from these.