Dr Daman Prakash
Several major events have been planned by the Cooperative Unions and governments across the globe to welcome the arrival of International Year of Cooperatives-2012.
The Angkasa of Malaysia is holding a major seminar in March 2012 to launch the celebrations. For this, over 150 participants and noted speakers have been invited from various parts of the world.
Indonesia is planning to reorganise and re-energise the ASEAN Cooperative Organisation (ACO) by holding ASEAN Cooperative Ministers’ Conference and several training programmes, including laying emphasis on business development of primary level multipurpose agricultural cooperatives. Special focus is laid on propagation of products of cooperatives from different parts of the country.
Sri Lanka’s Cooperative Council (NCC/SL) and the Cooperative Department and the National Institute of Cooperative Development (NICD) are planning to hold conferences on subjects like Agricultural Credit, HRD and on Cooperative Policies.
Nepal Cooperative Federation, National Cooperative Development Board and the government are planning to hold an international conference on strengthening of cooperatives and holding a special conference with former ICA seminar participants.
The IFFCO Foundation has already taken the lead by launching its prestigious publication entitled ‘Convulsing India with Cooperation’ which was formally released by Mrs Meira Kumar, Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha on November 21 2011 at a function organized by the IFFCO.
The government and the NCUI may consider holding an international conference on ‘Strategies of Cooperative Development in different SAARC Countries’ with a view to identify the areas of technical cooperation and trade among cooperatives in the region and might even offer some scholarships to SAARC Cooperative Movements.
The NCUI may like to launch an intensive programme of member education and also the NCCT’s training institutions to highlight the implications of the Constitutional Amendment.
NCUI, in collaboration with other cooperative organisations may conduct an intensive survey on at least 200-300 cooperatives on the pattern of ICA’s 300-Global Cooperatives in order to highlight the achievements of Indian Cooperative Institutions.
A similar effort is also being made by the Indonesian and Malaysian cooperatives, to conduct a similar survey on at least 200 cooperatives in ASEAN countries.
The IYC-2012 presents an excellent opportunity to Cooperative Movements all over the world that cooperative enterprises are also strong and good institutions to generate employment and to counter the ill-effects of open market economy.
(Dr Daman Prakash is a consultant with IFFCO Foundation)