Inaugurating 68th All India Cooperative Week and Cooperative Fair organized by National Cooperative Union of India on Monday, B.L. Verma, Union Minister of State for Cooperation said that he saw the massive strength of co-op during a recent program at Indraprastha stadium when more than 8 crore people connected to co-ops were part of the event across the globe.
“Even in this fair organized by NCUI, each stall has the backing of more than 30-40 thousand of women. Is it a mean achievement?”, asked Verma, who spent a good time inspecting various items produced by the self-help groups from across the states and exhibited at the NCUI Haat.
Verma said the government is committed to digitalization of Primary Agriculture Cooperatives in the wake of an ambitious target of setting up 3 lakh PACs in the next five years. He said that through a software, primary agriculture cooperative societies would be linked with DCCBs, and State Cooperative Banks, in which the role of NABARD would be vital. The theme of this year’s Cooperative Week celebrations is “Prosperity Through Cooperation”.
Cooperative Week is organised every year from 14th to 20th November to highlight the achievements of the cooperative movement, and chalk out a growth strategy ahead. For the first time during the Cooperative Week, a Cooperative Fair is being organized by NCUI in which more than 70 stalls of cooperatives/SHGs are being put up in the country. This Fair at NCUI premises opened on 14th November, 2021, and will continue till 20th November, 2021.
Verma further said that for digitalization of PACS, the training of officials of PACS is very important in which the role of NCUI as an apex body for cooperative education and training is vital. He further said that the role of cooperatives in implementation of government schemes is very important. He said that cooperative form of business is best for big and small businesses.
He highlighted the good work of cooperative organisations like– IFFCO, AMUL, Lijjat Pappad, etc. He further said that considering the problems voiced by many cooperative organisations regarding increasing RBI interference and control in the functioning of cooperative banks, he said that the government in consultation with RBI and other institutions will come up with decisions favouring cooperatives soon.
Dileep Sanghani, President, NCUI speaking on the occasion said that the decision of the government to bring in new National Policy on Cooperatives is very important for autonomous and professional functioning of cooperatives. He said that the new Ministry of Cooperation should ensure that the government does not neglect cooperatives in planning and budget formulation.
Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, Chief Executive, NCUI speaking on the occasion highlighted various new initiatives of NCUI like starting of NCUI Haat, under the aegis of which Cooperative Fair is being organized on the occasion of Cooperative Week, undertaking study on contribution of cooperatives in GDP, operation of Skill Development Centre as a Centre of Excellence of Cooperatives, etc. Here, it must be mentioned that NCUI inaugurated NCUI Haat in 16th August, 2021, which is a unique selling platform for the products of lesser known cooperatives/SHGs.
On this occasion the monthly magazine of NCUI “The Cooperator” was released. Besides, the training brochures of NCCE (a training wing of NCUI), NCHF Bulletin were released.
