A high-level team from NAFED led by Bijender Singh met the Union State Agriculture Minister Mohanbhai Kundariya seeking to know what is happening to NAFED bailout package. The package which was promised nearly a year ago is yet to arrive leading to confusion in the minds of people connected to the cooperative behemoth.
The delegation was also represented by Dileep Singh Sanghani the Vice-President of NAFED. “In fact it was Sanghani who had arranged the meeting with the Minister”, said Bijender Singh talking to Indian Cooperative on phone.
“I am confident it will come “said Bijender referring to the promised package. But on the question of delay he sounded defensive. Bijender said the Cabinet Note is ready and is likely to be presented in the meeting sooner than later. Sources informed Indian Cooperative that some queries raised by the legal department are holding the matter so far.
“Yes some queries have been raised and they would be sorted out; I am very hopeful”, repeated Bijender. Earlier, the govt had decided to give an annual grant of Rs 30 crore for a period of 5 years to the Nafed to meet its financial obligations including salaries of employees and administrative expenses.
The govt had also offered to stand as guarantor of Nafed before the lending banks who had moved Debt Recovery Tribunal for recovery of their outstanding dues of around Rs 1700 crores.
Nafed has sought a temporary stay on the recovery orders of Debt Recovery Tribunal which had ordered to sell off its properties to recover dues.
There are many including the well-known cooperator Satish Marathe who are against the bailout package for Nafed. Marathe feels co-operatives are not State Agencies and the Govt should have little or no control over its functioning. As a policy, Govts should not never fund an ailing co-operative just to keep it alive or to ensure continued employment to the staff working in such Co-ops’, he said.