Launching the international cooperative year 2012 on All India Radio, the President of National Cooperative Union of India Prof Chandra Pal Singh Yadav and Central Registrar from Government of India Mr R K Tiwary jointly emphasized the importance of cooperative movement for a country like India.
Cooperative is an important pillar of country’s economic life. In nineties when the liberalization was ushered in, privatization was practiced in a big way, yet it could not encompass the whole of India. If we intend to touch the last man in the village we need to take help of cooperatives, said President of NCUI.
Government has also many welfare schemes and cooperative can prove a boon to approach the remotest part of the Country. There are six lakh cooperative societies and about 24 crore people associated with cooperatives, the President added.
An IAS and Joint Secretary in GOI Mr R K Tiwary agreed with Mr Yadav and said that not only in India but also in countries dependent on agriculture, cooperative institutions offer unique model of development.
In modern times when competition has become stiff, cooperatives should think ways to survive and prosper, Mr Tiwary added. New challenges are thrown every day and if cooperatives are not self-dependent it is hard for them to survive, he cautioned.
Agreeing with Tiwary Chandrapal Singh said that the primary aim of cooperative is not to earn money but to help members. He also complained that govt is reducing budget for cooperatives gradually in each five year plan. He cited 8th five year plan as case in point.
Joining the issue Central Registrar said that if government gives grant, the chance of its intervention in the working of cooperative also increases. We have already given a corpus fund of 100 crores to NCUI so that it is able to take care of its training needs.
Emphasizing the role of training youth in the philosophy of cooperative movement, both the participants vowed to carry it more efficiently. The programme would be broadcast soon.