The President of India Shri Pranab Mukerji inaugurated the 16th Indian Cooperative Congress organised by National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) in the capital on Tuesday. The high voltage event was presided over by Union Minister of Agriculture Shri Sharad Pawar. It was attended by more than 2000 delegates from across the country and abroad.
President Shri Pranab Mukherjee praised the contributions made by the Cooperative sector towards the transformation of the rural economy and emphasized that the role of the cooperatives has increased many fold in the current context than it was ever before.
Cooperatives have not only played a meaningful role in improving the socio-economic condition of their members but have also served as catalysts for economic growth and social cohesion, Shri Mukherjee said.
The President hoped that the deliberations of the 16th Indian Cooperative Congress would lead to the formulation of sustainable strategies for improving the cooperative sector which would lead to a better, more equitable and more secure world. The lessons learnt at some institutions, including cooperatives help democratize the society, he added.
President Pranab Mukherjee released a publication on success stories spanning all the cooperative sectoral areas, a souvenir and also a book on Right to Information and Cooperatives.
Union Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industry, Shri Sharad Pawar in his address spoke about the endeavour of the Government of India to evolve an appropriate policy and legislative framework to create an environment conducive to the growth of the cooperative sector in the country. Shri Pawar spoke about the 97th Constitutional Amendment Act that ensures the Right to form Cooperatives as a Fundamental Right. He called upon the states to participate effectively for sustainable cooperative development.
Mrs Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi who was also present on the occasion praised the contribution of the cooperatives in almost all the areas of socio-economic activities like agricultural credit, housing, sugar, milk, tourism, fishery, spinning and fertilisers. Smt. Dikshit spoke about the need to further develop Women Cooperatives and to ensure greater participation of the Youth in Cooperatives.
Addressing the delegates,Dr. Chandra Pal Singh, President, NCUI said that the Congress is the biggest image–building exercise of the cooperative sector in India. He further said that the Congress is held at a time when the cooperatives face a big challenge to compete in the market economy.
Though cooperatives are fully confident of their potentialities they must communicate their strengths as compared to other enterprises in the modern economy. Ms. Dame Pauline Green, President of ICA who was the Guest of Honour lauded the contribution of the Indian Cooperative movement and said that the cooperative sector had shown remarkable resilience notwithstanding the global financial crisis.
The theme of this 16th Cooperative Congress is ‘Cooperative Enterprises Build A Better World.’ The Congress will review the progress of the cooperative sector and come up with effective policy-guidelines in the wake of the emergent problems before the sector.
Technical Sessions will be organised on the subject Direct Tax Code-Exemption to Cooperatives, Cooperative Credit Sector Cooperative Enterprises – Acceptable Business Model, Food Security – A Role of Cooperatives Women and Youth in Cooperatives, Emerging Cooperatives/Weaker Section, Cooperative Legislation – Recent Trends, Cooperative Education and Training to discuss strategies for the growth of cooperatives as autonomous and competitive enterprises.
There are more than 6 lakh cooperative societies in the country. The cooperatives cover 100% of the villages and 75% of the rural house-holds. Due to significant contribution of milk cooperatives, India is the largest producer of milk in the world. Amul, IFFCO and KRIBHCO are the biggest success stories in the cooperative sector.