Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, M.P. (Rajya Sabha) and President, NCUI said that cooperative is the best suited to give respect to women. More and more women should organize themselves into cooperatives so that their membership is 50% of the cooperative movement, Yadav stressed.
He was speaking in a function organized by NCUI on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The event was attended by women cooperative representatives in large numbers along with the officials of cooperative organizations. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives”.
Pointing out that the Constitutional Amendment Bill talks of 2 women in the Board of Directors, he said women should now utilize this opportunity to be active to have leadership roles in the cooperatives. He said that cooperatives can provide employment opportunities to the women.
He pointed out successful functioning women cooperatives in AMUL, SHGs, etc. He also said that International Women’s Day should not be celebrated in a routine manner every year. “Chalk out programmes, work on them, and review their functioning at the occasion of next year’s International Day for Women”, he said.
Satya Narayana, Chief Executive, NCUI said that though women are associated with various types of cooperatives,
the participation in the cooperative movement is not adequate. If women join the cooperative movement in right earnest, it will lead to their upliftment as well as the development and growth of the nation, the Chief Executive felt.
Sandeep Kumar Naik, Managing Director of NCDC, speaking on occasion said that women cooperatives financed by NCDC are coming up with innovative products which are in good demand.
Ms. Sunita Pariskar, G.M., Saraswat Cooperative Bank speaking on the occasion that with history of more than 100 years, Saraswat Cooperative Bank is the largest cooperative in Asia. She said that the bank has promoted many women coops/SHGs.
Ms. Surekha Khot, Member, NCUI Women Empowerment Committee said that women have taken the lead in manufacturing solar energy machines in Gujarat.
Ms. Archana Singhal, Women Wing, President, Sahkar Bharti, Delhi pointing out the successful case of Lijjat Pappad said that there is need for good women trainers.
Hundreds of women cooperators had assembled to NCUI on this occasion. NCUI also gave letter of appreciation to Sharada co-operative for its work in uplifting the lot of women.
V K Dubey, Head NCCE proposed a vote of thanks.
