AGM: Demand for separate Ministry grows

“Despite several achievements under its belt, the cooperative sector has no role in the crafting of the country’s social and economic policies. This explains why cooperative issues are not taken seriously. If there is a separate Union Cooperative Ministry, the whole situation may change ” said Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, Chairman, National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) while addressing the Annual General Meeting in its headquarters in Delhi on Wednesday.

Praising the efforts of co-op banks, Chandra Pal said these are the only banks in the country that sanction loans at the cheapest rate of Interest to the farmers. Cooperative banks boast a better performance in the area of NPA compared to other banks including Nationalized and Commercial banks, NCUI president said.

”At the time of demonetization, these banks faced multiple challenges but they tackled them well. We had met the Union Finance Minister then and apprised him of the difficulties arising out of demonetization. We had also talked about the lingering issue of Income Tax burden on cooperative banks”, he told delegates.

NCUI Vice-President Bijendra Singh, Government Nominee Jyotindra Mehta, Pramod Kumar Singh, Kiran Kakati, Balvindar Nakia, GUJCOMASOL Chairman Dileepbhai Sanghani, BISCOMAUN Chairman Sunil Kumar Singh, NLCF Director Ashok Dabbas, Fishcopfed Chairman T.Prasad Dora, Mudit Verma, Kamal Dhami and others were present on this occasion.

Chandra Pal Singh called for the implementation of the 97th Constitutional Amendment pending in the court. There are state governments that have not handled the matter properly, he added.

Highlighting the achievements of NCUI he said, “Our education wing has conducted 144 seminars beyond the target and educated more than 5,000 peoples associated with different cooperative societies in the last financial year. We have also organized the 12th ICA-AP Regional Assembly after 20 years in Delhi”, he said.

NCUI President further said there is a need to involve more and more youths in the cooperative movement. NCUI will organize scores of seminars to educate youths and women because they are the future of cooperatives, he told delegates.

Cooperatives are also playing an important role in empowering the farmers. About 65 percent of India’s total population is dependent on agriculture. Now days, cases of suicide among farmers are increasing day by day but in states where the cooperative movement is strong the death toll of farmers is much less, he said proudly.

National Cooperative Union of India Chief Executive N.Satyanaryana presented the agenda before the delegates which was unanimously adopted.

NCUI Vice-President G.H.Amin proposed vote of thanks.