North Zone Cooperative Conference was concluded gloriously on Tuesday in NCUI auditorium in  New Delhi in the presence of Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, NCUI President , Bijender Singh Nafed Chairman, GC Pati, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and hundreds of  delegates from the six northern states including  Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

The programme was inaugurated by Mr Arun Yadav ,State Agriculture Minister, GOI  to a packed auditorium which played host to hundreds of women, men, young ones and senior cooperative leaders.

The entire programme was conducted into three phases-inaugural, technical and valedictory.

Speaking on the occasion State Agriculture Minister Arun Yadav said that his family’s association with cooperative movement is three decades old and he knows the problems faced by this sector. Assuring the assembled crowd he said that he would meet the Union Finance Minister on the issue of Direct Tax Code going to be effective from next year.

“If the need be, he would also meet Prime Minister on the issue”, Mr Yadav said to wild applause from audience.

NCUI President Mr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav enumerated the problems faced by cooperatives and was especially critical of amendment in Multi State Societies Act, which according to him, is a retrogressive step.

NAFED Chairman Bijender Singh consoled the delegates and said that we would fight united and would meet Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister on the issue of Direct Tax Code and amendment in multi state societies act.

Technical session saw enumeration of problems faced by delegates and a final list of recommendations were prepared for the attention of Agriculture secretary who, unfortunately did not turn up.

The valedictory speech was made by additional secretary Mr G C Pati who said that Indian Cooperative movement is one of the largest in the world. Government has always been eager to professionalize the cooperative so that they could compete with changing economic scenario. He preferred supportive frame work instead of more and more subsidy.

Bijender Singh proposed votes of thanks.

After her candidature for the post of Chief Executive was not entertained by the appointment committee of NCUI Mrs Anita Manchanda resigned from the post early Tuesday morning.

With this her stint of nearly two years as acting Chief Executive of NCUI came to an end.

Readers may be aware that on Monday the Governing Council of NCUI met to decide over the recommendation of appointment committee.Dr Dinesh Mishra, an educationist emerged as the winner.

Dr Mishra is presently Advisor to AICTE ,though his job is with Sanskrit Vidya Peeth, a wing of Union HRD Ministry.

Mrs Manchanda is credited with introducing COOP CONNECT-a programe aimed at infusing cooperative concepts among school children.

In its effort to strengthen and coordinate cooperative activities in the country ,  National Cooperative Union of India( NCUI) has begun to organize region-wise conferences to find the problems and their solutions specific to the region. First of all, it is organizing North Zone Cooperative Conference on 29th March, 2011 in New Delhi encompassing six states of north India.

The states include Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu &Kashmir are participating. Cooperative Ministers, Registrars of cooperatives and cooperative leaders from grass root level from these states are expected to participate in this conference.

Talking to Indiancooperative.com Mr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President NCUI said that it would be an interactive session where people would list their problems before the highest authority of cooperative sector.

Shri Arun Yadav, Union Minister of State for Agriculture would be there in the first session to hear the problems of cooperative sector and Secretary, Government of India would be in evening session to give solutions to these problems, said Mr Chandra Pal Singh.

The Conference will review the progress and achievements of cooperatives and challenges being faced by them in the region and chalk out an Action Plan.

National Cooperative Union of India as an apex organization of Indian Cooperative was set up with the aim of promoting and strengthening the various sectors of cooperatives with due focus on cooperative education and training.

The Indian cooperative movement is the largest movement of the world representing 24 crore members and over 6.00 lakhs cooperatives from village to national level and is functioning through important sectors like credit & banking, fertilizer, sugar, dairy, marketing, consumer, handloom, handicraft, fisheries, tribal, labour and housing etc.

All these important sectors are represented in the Governing Council of National Cooperative Union of India which is responsible for all policy decisions for the growth and development of the cooperatives in India.

The Conference will also be attended by Registrar of Cooperative Societies of the States of  Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Union Territory of Delhi besides Chairmen and Managing Directors of National level Federations, representatives of Government of India, NCDC, NABARD and members of the NCUI Governing Council and representatives of State level Cooperative Organizations.

Indian Cooperative.Com is proud to be official media partner of this true cooperative initiative taken by NCUI

Indian cooperative .com was almost prophetic when it wrote in an earlier piece that Monday would be the last day of Mrs Anita Manchanda as Chief Executive of NCUI. In a resolution passed by Governing Council on the same day, Dr Dinesh Mishra, an educationist was vetoed  to be the next Chief Executive of NCUI.

Dr Dinesh Mishra is presently on deputation as Advisor in All India Council of Technical Education. Originally, he is deputy Registrar of Sanskrit Vidya Peeth under Union HRD Ministry.

A man with wide exposure and learning, he was earlier with Steel Authority of India and is said to have gathered experience in cooperative matters there.

The resolution passed by GC will later result in drafting of an appointment letter after which Dr Mishra will take over. It may take a month or a half.

The GC put its seal on the decision of appointment committee which consisted of NCUI President, Vice-President, Central Registrar and an expert. If sources are to be believed, the expert in the team still wanted to retain Mrs Anita Manchanda as Chief Executive but the rest of the members of appointment committee prevailed over him and selected Dr Dinesh Mishra as the next man.

Indiancooperative.com has been continuously raising the issue of non-appointment of a  regular Chief Executive for last two years. It is happy that the matter stands  resolved.

Chief Executive of NCUI is a very crucial post as he has to keep an eye on the growth of cooperative movement and lend strength to any small cooperative activities  taking place  anywhere in the country.

Let us hope the Dr Mishra will fulfil the expectations and act as true co-operator.

Today is the D day.The appointment committee is going to put its choice before the governing council.The governing council members encompass all sectors of cooperatives.If HK Patil of NAFCUB would be there,NAFED Chairman Bijender Singh would also grace the occasion.

The GC would put its seal on the final decision of appointment committee which consisted of NCUI President,Vice-President,Central Registrar and an expert. If sources are to be believed Mrs Anita Manchanda, the acting Chief Executive for nearly two years, stands no chance.

Some say she is not even eligible for the post as her educational qualifications are less than demanded by the post.

Her two years stint,except for “Coop Connect” has been mostly event less with lesser visibility of NCUI in the affairs of cooperative activities across India. Be it problem of fisherman cooperative or labour cooperative, problem of arecanut cooperatives in Karnataka or urban cooperative banks, her role as the ear of the governing council of NCUI has been less than brilliant.

Chief Executive of NCUI is a very crucial post as he or she has to keep an eye on the growth of cooperative movement and lend strength to any small cooperative activities  taking place  anywhere in the country. Being a permanent executive he or she is expected to put important issues before the Chairman and GC.

Let us hope the GC would select a candidate who would understand the  role NCUI has to play in cooperative sector across the states.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants ICAI of India has formed a committee to guide and support the cooperative sector in streamlining their audit procedures and raise governance levels, President G Ramasamy said on Sunday.

The ICAI has suggested replicating the successful laws in the sector in Maharashtra and Gujarat, so that the cooperative sector can bring out financial statements in a uniform manner in compliance with appropriate accounting standards, Ramasamy told reporters in coimbtore.

As there were no such laws to govern other states, it was high time the Centre acted to bring the sector under the uniform financial statement concept, he said.

As part of international initiatives, ICAI would like to have strategic collaborations with more international accounting bodies to enable it provide members a global outlook, he said.

Reacting sharply to uproar in the Bihar Assembly Mr Sunil Singh, Chairman of Biscomaun said that High Court has already quashed the case and gave clean chit to Biscomaun. We are sure the vigilance panel will soon find it out.

Accusing the Cooperative Minister Ramadhar Singh of being completely unaware of the matter Mr Singh claimed that the Court had already adjudicated in the matter giving clean chit to Biscomaun.It the Hon.Court Vs Government now.

But I will resign from the Chairmanship if the minister Ramadhar Singh could spell out the full form of BISCOMAUN, said an angry Sunil Singh.

Talking to Indiancooperative .com Mr Sunil Singh said that he is thankful to Sushil Modi, the Deputy CM who favoured Vigilance inquiry in place of House probe. The  MLAs are only interested in  making  money from the Biscomaun, he added.

Referring obliquely to scions of late Tapeshwer Singh he said that “I am not a hotelier,I do not have even a katha of land in Patna. When I took over, Biscomoun was earning merely Rs 4 lakh but without taking loan from anywhere I took it to the earning of one crore per month”

Biscomanu’s Chairman Sunil Singh’s anger against late Tapeshwar Singh is due to the fact that Buxer PACs member and Tapeshwar Babu’s son  Ranjit Singh and others have been spearheading the campaign against Biscomaun board. One of the  Board members of BISCOMAUN Mr Vinay  Sahi has levelled charges of serious financial misconduct on the part of the Chairman Mr Sunil Singh. He has asked for CBI inquiry in many acts of omission and commission by the unauthorized board headed by Mr Sunil Singh.

In a sort of  victory for  Indiancooperative.com, Bihar government ordered vigilance probe into working of Biscomaun on Thursday. The probe committee will submit report within three months thus unveiling the truth behind the charges.

Readers may be aware that Indiancooperative.com has exposed the scam and called for CBI Inquiry in the matter about two months back. The case pertains to one Sidarth cooperative which received Rs one crore from Biscomaun to purchase grains for Food Corporation of India. FCI  had given Rs 3 crore to Biscomaun to procure grains.

Sidarth Cooperative is said to have bought grains from the open market in Rohtas, Camoor, Buxer and Bhojpur  and sent the same to FCI through Biscomaun.

The coal scam pertained to Biscomaun selling subsidized coal to non –existent agencies. Director of Industries wrote a letter to Central Coalfileld Limites on the matter of coal distribution to the tiny and small consumers  exposing the corrupt practices adopted by Biscomaun.  In this letter (Vide letter nos 1342), Director of Industries, Govt of Bihar has intimated to Central Coalfield Limited that during inspection made by them(Director Industries) ,it has been found that Biscomaun has allocated coal either to those industries which are not in existence or presently closed.

It is well known that Biscomaun is nominated by the State government as state agency for distribution of coal to small and tiny consumers. After receiving this intimation CCL asked Bihar Govt either to monitor coal-distribution or suspend  Biscomaun’s agency for the purpose.

On suspension Biscomaun approached High Court which gave verdict in its favour and restored its position as the sole agency of coal distribution in the state but simultaneously the court wanted the state government to investigate the matter.

In the Bihar assembly on Thursday the Cooperative Minister wanted to order probe by the MLA’s committee but deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi intervened and said that state vigilance committee is competent enough to probe the matter.

Modi also took a dig at opposition which kept mostly silent on the issue. It is well known that Sunil Singh, the Chairman of Biscomaun is close to RJD of Lalu Prasad Yadav. Vinay Singh of BJP had raised the matter in the House.

We produce below a related piece on Biscomaun that appeared in Indiancooperative.com

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may have done the wonderful job of conducting PACs election by establishing Bihar State Election Authority Act, 2008 but his preoccupations with development plank has given unscrupulous elements a chance to make mockery of cooperative acts in the State.

The Board of Director of BISCOMAUN took oath of office in 2003 and its term was to expire in the year 2008. But an illegal Board is continuing and transacting business with impunity till date.

The term of Board of Director of BISCOMAUN was to end on 28-05-2008. However, Bihar State Cooperative Society Act, 1935 was amended on 29-04-2008 whereby clause 14(A) was inserted in the Act.

As per the provision of said amended Act, notification for election was issued as per section 14(A) (1) vide notification no. 2564, dated 01-05-2008 (Gazetted on 07-05-2008)

Further there was a provision in the said 14 (A) (3), that the said period of election could be extended by six month by notification but not more than two years from date of first publication of notification.

There was a provision in section 14 (A) sub clause (4) that the term of Board of Director / Management Committee of such Cooperative Society like BISCOMAUN will whose term expire after the date of notification shall get extension till said period.

The “First Notification” was issued vide notification no. 2564, dated 01-05-2008 (Gazetted on 07-05-2008). The term of this notification expired on 06-10-2008, i.e. six month from date of Gazette notification.

Vide notification no. 7030, dated 31-10-2008, a “2nd notification” was issued extending period of election by further six month. This notification expired as 30-04-2009 or say 06-05-2009 if date of Gazette notification is taken in consideration. As such the Board of BISCOMAUN and similar other Apex Cooperative Societies also got extension in terms of clause 14(A) sub clause (4) of the Act till validity of above notification.

The “third notification” was issued vide notification no. 1931, dated 18-05-2009 after a gap of 17 days between the expiring of 2nd notification and issue of third notification. As such there was a gap of 17 days between expiring of 2nd notification & issue of 3rd notification and in the period of gap or say vacuum, the extended tenure of Board of Directors of BISCOMAUN / Other cooperative society expired and the board ceased to exist calling for appointment of Administrator.

A “3rd Notification” for election was issued vide notification no. 1931, dated 18-05-2009 for six month period in term of section 14 (A) sub clause (3). However the election could not be held in this period too and further 4th and last extension for conduct election as per clause 14A (3) was given vide “4th notification no. 7345, dated 19-11-2009” for last six months.

The then Secretary, Co-operative moved a file is May 2010 to give further extension  of six month for holding election which was beyond the two year period & was against the provision of Section 14 A (3) of the Act.

This further extension of six month period was is gross violation of Bihar State Cooperative Society Act, 1935 clause 14(A) sub clause (3), as no extension beyond two year period was permissible as per Act.

The then Secretary, Cooperative has made a reference to his discussion with the Advocate General, on the point of extension but no where opinion of the Advocate General is on record.

It is a  fit case where the Administrator should have been appointed by the Cooperative Department, Govt. of Bihar in BOSCOMAUN and other  Apex Cooperative Societies.

But is there  some  connivance between  Board of BISCOMAUN & other Apex bodies with  the Department of Cooperative, Govt. of Bihar that such a hopeless situation is prevailing?

In a minor setback to IFFCO-TOKIO, Consumer Forum of Chandigarh has slapped it with penalty of Rs 18,500. According to complainant Suresh Kumar the insurance company did not entertain his claim even though he had valid papers. He was forced to lodge a case in consumer forum which gave verdict in his favour.

Suresh Kumar had a scooter insured by Iffco-Tokio  yet he was denied the claim on the ground of submitting licence in the name of a different person. Suresh contested this argument by providing fresh papers from the transport department which the insurance company refused to accept.

Tired of making umpteen visits to the Iffco-Tokio office he at last approached the consumer Forum in Chandigarh. The Forum verified all his papers and found them valid and genuine. It directed Iffco-Tokio to  pay Rs 18,500 to the complainant, Suresh Kumar, a resident of Panchkula.

Insurance company are notorious for harassing its clients. They seem to offer all help at the time of selling insurance. But once  you have bought the insurance they would not entertain you. Iffco-Tokio being the first insurance agency from the cooperative sector is expected to change the common perception.

Talking to Indian Cooperative.com Mr S Narayanan had claimed earlier that ” We want to be number one company in peoples’ perception”. Hope he sends this massage strongly down the lower rung.