More than 500 delegates including Chairmen and MDs of several national co-op federations came early to occupy the front row of NCUI auditorium where union minister Radha Mohan was slated to come on Wednesday in Delhi.
Kicking off the 65th All India Cooperative Week Radha Mohan Singh, Union & Agriculture Minister lauded the theme of this year’s cooperative week celebrations “Inclusive Growth and Good Governance through Cooperatives for Rural Prosperity”. The cooperative week is celebrated every year from 14-20th November, 2018.
Sh. Singh further said that the government has made every effort to strengthen the cooperative movement in the recent years. Further it is said that it is wrong to assume that the government is trying to harm the cooperative movement. If there is some misunderstanding then this can be solved through dialogues and discussions. Extolling the virtues of cooperatives, he said that “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” can be possible only through cooperatives.
He further said that in the current times innovation and research are the biggest challenge before the cooperative movement. He further said that “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” can be possible only through the medium
of cooperatives. He further said that in order to make cooperatives professional organizations, they should give emphases on education and training.
Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President, NCUI in his presidential address said that earlier 75% economic activities were performed through cooperators, but now this has decreased to 15% he further said that in place of cooperatives banks which earlier used to advance loans, the private banks have emerged that the government should formulate cooperative policy in such a way that cooperatives are strengthened. He further said that the government should consider cooperative education and training as same sides of the coin, not as separate entities, so that this has no adverse impact in the functioning of the cooperative movement.
Mr. Balu Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP speaking on the occasion said that there is no better model of inclusive growth than that of cooperatives and there can be no better startup than that of cooperatives.
Mr. K.G. Suresh, Director General, Institute of Mass Communication speaking on the occasion said that the 
cooperators should strengthen their communication plank so that there is good publicity made for the work of cooperatives. He said that IIMC will work with NCUI in this regard so that cooperative communications is strengthened.
On this occasion NCUI received more than 30 Messages from eminent dignitaries like Vice President, Cabinet Ministers, Minister of State, Governors, Chief Ministers, etc. A special issue of the magazine ‘The Cooperaor’ was released on the occasion.
The function was attended by more than 500 delegates representing national and state level cooperatives in the country.
Minister also said that government is coming up with Rs. 1000 Crore cooperative start-up and innovation fund which will create self-employment opportunities benefiting the women and weaker sections of the society.
