IFFCO MD in NCUI’s Education Fund meeting

The changing equation between the apex cooperative body NCUI and the largest farmers’ cooperative IFFCO was noticeable when the MD of the latter Dr US Awasthi himself came to participate in the Education Fund Committee meeting that took place on Tuesday at the NCUI Headquarters in Delhi. An insider from the NCUI said this is the first time that Dr Awasthi has participated.

Earlier, Awasthi would send one of his representatives, mostly Dr G N Saxena to this meeting. An excited Awasthi was extremely happy with the mood of the meeting and said “ what inspired me was the desire for change in the committee members. The times have really changed and we need to shake off the old mindsets.”

The chief aim of the meet is to have judicious planning related to budgetary allocation and budgetary monitoring to enhance the quality of co-operative education and training.

Cooperative Education Fund Committee is a seven-member body in which President of NCUI, DG of NCCT, head of Vaikunth Mehta are members from the apex body. There are two Multi State Cooperative Societies in CEF – IFFCO and CAMPCO. The other two members are government nominees- Central Registrar and Financial Advisor.

Tuesday meeting saw participation by Central Registrar Raj Singh, Chandra Pal Singh, Dr U S Awasthi, IFFCO MD, Dr Dinesh and Sanjib Patjoshi. Financial Advisor was conspicuous by his absence.

Participants including the Chairman were very receptive to each other’s suggestions. I suggested to keep the most important agenda at the top as I have noticed that not-so-important items on agenda exhaust the members at the start of the meeting and by the time the real issues come up there is lack of energy in the group, IFFCO MD shared with Indian Cooperative.

We should not sit idle just by writing to the Central Registrar if a cooperative society, which is in profit, is not contributing. The Chairman and other members should be involved in initiating the dialogue with such co-operatives, Awasthi reportedly said in the meeting.

Readers must be aware that as per sub-rule (1) of Rule 25 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 “Every multi-state cooperative society shall credit a sum calculated at one percent of its net profits every year as contribution to the cooperative education fund maintained by the National Cooperative Union of India Limited, New Delhi.”

Readers would recollect that Dr G N Saxena had objected to fund diversion for the renovation of auditorium in 2012 leading to serious differences between him and then Chief Executive Mrs Anita Manchanda, as reported in Indian Cooperative.

And now Dr Awasthi attending this meeting coupled with Dr Chandra Pal welcoming him with open arms, looks like a dream come true. It augurs well for the Indian cooperative movement , quipped a cooperator at the NCUI.