Mr Dabas, an old hand began to compare the Labour federation with Fisheries Federation FISHCOFED and lauded the latter openly at the cost of his own federation. According to Sources with Indian Cooperative.com , the Managing Director R N Pandey took strong objection and lodged protest with the Chairman.
Talking to Indian Cooperative.com Mr Pandey tried to downplay the whole episode with the word” Had he expressed his opinion in NFCL Board meeting or to me directly, it would have been better”.
Observers confirm the existence of old-time hostilities between Ashok Dabas and the MD Mr Pandey.
The program was entitled “National Workshop on Involvement and empowerment of women & Youth in Labour Cooperatives”. Many prominent persons such as Dinesh Rai ,IAS Chairmen, Warehousing Devlopment & Regulatory Authority, Government of India , Shri Badrul Hasan, Executive Director, National cooperative Development Corporation and S. K. Jha , Additional Registrar of cooperative societies, Govt. of Delhi participated in the event.
Other participants included Shri Ram Lakhan Sahu, Chairman, Chhattisgarh state cooperative Union, Shri Kuldeep Singh, Director, NLCF, Ms. Kamna Kashyap, Dy. Director, Ministry of agriculture, and Mrs Veena Nabar , Ex- Chief Director, NCDC.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Dinesh Rai said the increased participation of youth and women in cooperative movement is must to take it to newer heights. Availability These days there is ample employment opportunities in small towns and villages also, he added.
Mr Rai also emphasized on the role of education and said that education leads to skill development which in turn increases employability. He demanded that 20 percent labour contracts should go to labour cooperatives.
Other speakers also spoke on the importance of increased participation of youth and women in cooperative movement.
The Chairman of NFCL could not attend as fog disrupted his journey.