Cooperators moot idea of separate Ministry for “Co-operative Sector”

The crucial meeting of co-operators from different sectors which was called by NCUI on Tuesday, proved a gamechanger with the idea of a separate ministry for co-operative getting support from all quarters.

It has been our long-time demand as we always felt that the subject “cooperation” does not get its due attention on account of being a part of the Agriculture Ministry, said NCUI President Dileep Sanghani to the Indian Cooperative.

The virtual meeting which was attended by more than 40 leaders and addressed by Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, reiterated demand for a separate ministry for the cooperative sector.

Welcoming the participants, Sanghani asked them to give their suggestions on the issue of creating a separate ministry for the co-operative sector. Rupala also asked the participants to feel free to express themselves on the issue.

Leaders after leaders spoke on the issue and stressed how a separate and independent ministry for the cooperative sector is a must. There are several sub-sectors within the co-op sector and an independent ministry with a Minister, a Secretary and a department will go a long way in solving the problem of cooperatives, felt several participants.

Besides Rupala and Sanghani, those present in the virtual meeting included Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, H K Patil, Bijender Singh, Bhima Subramaniyam, Ravindra Rao among others. The CE of NCUI Sudhir Mahajan, still recuperating from the Covid 19 infection could not make it to the event.

IFFCO was represented by its Chairman B S Nakai, R P Singh, Yogendra Kumar and Tarun Bhargava. G H Amin, NCUI Ex-CE N Satyanarayan, Sanjeev Kushalkar, Vishal Singh, Pradeep Chaudhary, Ved Prakash Setia were among the participants.

Elaborating on the need for a separate ministry, NCUI President Sanghani said there are several important sectors such as fertilizer, rural credit, sugar, co-op banks which all have to look up to the ministry of Agriculture as of now. There are more than 40 such businesses in which co-ops are active today. Having a separate ministry is needed to sort out their issues, he underlined.

The meeting lasted over two hours but discussions were still continuing. Later, Sanghani asked participants to send their suggestions in writing to NCUI. “We propose to have a committee to filter important points before submitting them to the govt, as desired by MoS Rupala”, said Sanghani.

Sanghani also said that the exercise would be kept above narrow political considerations. He mentioned H K Patil saying he is a Congressman but a committed co-operator. The Committee to present NCUI case before the govt will consist of leaders of every stripe, he stressed.

The virtual meeting kicked off at 11 am and continued till 1 pm on Tuesday. Besides the issue of a separate ministry it held detailed deliberations on strengthening the co-op movement.

The agenda also included reviewing the national policy on cooperation which was last made in 2002. National policy on cooperatives has to be in consonance with the ever-changing socio-economic aspirations of society, felt participants.