Proving once again why he is respected across the board, former NCUI President and currently ICA Asia-Pacific Chairman, Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, ignoring his political affiliation, was full of praise for the new initiatives taken by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
If only states cooperate, the new model byelaws for PACS as envisioned by the new Ministry under the guidance of Amit Shah will rewrite the history of each village in the country, said Chandra Pal in an exclusive interview to Indian Cooperative at his Kribhco office in Noida.
When PACS could be enabled to give gas cylinders, potable water or can have PDS as its varied range of services, where is the chance of corruption, asked Chandra Pal. When each villager has a stake in it and everyone owns it, the situation would be so different, felt Chandra Pal.
It bears recalling that PACS in new avatar will provide community-based services in the field of education (school, college), health (hospital, dispensary, clinical laboratory, ambulance service), tourism and environmental and sustainable development activities to the members.
The Draft bylaws talk of PACS participating in the Government Schemes for payment services through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the beneficiaries in the operational areas of the Society.
It can also demonstrate, promote and develop the latest technologies or extension activities related to agriculture and its allied activities for enhancing the income of the society and its members.
Chandra Pal was no less impressed by Amit Shah’s speech in Bhopal during a NAFED function, wherein he shared the dais with Shah. Shah had said that it was high time Nafed looked beyond government procurement.
When you come to the cooperative you forget your political colour, said Chandra Pal who is not only an active member of the Samajwadi Party but also had been a SP’s Rajya Sabha member. “See Sanghani, an out and out BJP man, yet when it comes to cooperative issues he stands with the rest of us shoulder to shoulder”, said Chandra Pal.
Lauding Sanghani further, Chandra Pal said “my opposition to the govt could be understandable as I belong to the SP but Sanghani goes against his own govt on issues, he thinks, are against the interest of co-operative; that is the spirit of cooperative.
Speaking further Chandra Pal said “that is why forgetting my party affiliation I support many new initiatives launched by Amit Shah. Most of all, he has restored the lost glory of the cooperative movement and has brought it to center stage.”
“Ever since Shah has joined as our Minister, co-op issues are being taken up seriously by all the arms of the government; it’s no mean achievement and we must say thank you Amit Shahjee ”, concluded Chandra Pal.