The apex national cooperative body NCUI and the prime lender to cooperatives NCDC have joined hands to commemorate the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Champaran.
Nudged by the Union Agricultural Ministry , NCUI and NCDC are holding a mega cooperative show today at Motihari. The event is aimed at making people aware of the cooperative movement, said NCDC Joint MD Mr D N Thakur who is camping in Motihari town. .
The Govt of India has in fact dedicated a whole week for the celebrations from April 13 to April 19 but cooperative as a subject has been given one whole day that falls on 13th April. The programme will witness participation of a host of Union Ministers including Radha Mohan Singh and Suresh Prabhu.
It was the farmers of Champaran for whom Gandhi had gone to Motihari and the occasion calls for befitting celebrations, said NCUI Chief Executive N Satyanarayan who was busy finalizing preparations for the event a couple of days in advance.
Senior leaders of Sahakar Bharati are also coming to take part in the event, told NCUI sources. Vijay Dewangan-the man who wrote a booklet on revered Inamdar is going to make introductory speech in the event on Thursday.
Uday Joshi yet another senior Sahakar Bharat functionary is also listed as a speaker during the celebrations.
There would be Nukkud nataks to popularize the concept of cooperative along with exhibition of documentary films by NCDC and NCUI each on the occasion, said D N Thakur.
About 100 senior cooperators and farmers from the area are also going to be felicitated on the occasion, said Ministry sources. Union Minister Radha Mohan is taking personal interest in the event as Motihari happens to be his Lok Sabha constituency.
The event is also close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s heart who earlier spoke about celebrating it with elan. Media reports, however point out, Modi’s displeasure with the Union Agricultural Minister for allowing Nitish a head start on observing the event.