NCUI held a press conference in Delhi on Thursday to announce the commencement of Cooperative Congress. Addressing media persons NCUI President Chandra Pal Singh said that the apex organization will be organizing 16th Indian Cooperative Congress from 25th-26th June, 2013 at Delhi.

Pranab Mukherjee, Hon’ble President of India will inaugurate the Congress on 25th June, 2013 at Siri Fort Auditorium, and Sharad Pawar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industry will preside over the Congress. The Congress will review the progress of the cooperative sector and come up with effective policy-guidelines in the wake of the emergent problems before the sector, Chandra Pal added.

The theme of the Congress is ‘Cooperative Enterprise Build A Better World.’ The Congress is likely to be attended by more than 2000 delegates from across the country and abroad. S.C. Jamir, Hon’ble Governor, Odisha, Aziz Qureshi, Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand, Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi.

Other dignitaries include Dr. Kukul Sangma, Chief Minister, Meghalaya, Tariq Anwar, Minister of State for Agriculture & Food Processing, Govt. of India, K.V.K. Reddy, Minister for Coopn., A.P., Siddeque Ahmed, Minister for Coopn., Assam, J.H. Rothuama, Minister for Coopn., Mizoram, Li-Chunsheng.

Vice President of ICA will be the Guests of Honour on the occasion. The major highlights of the Congress will be release of a publication on success stories spanning various cooperative fields and a book on Right to Information and Cooperatives. Eight Technical Sessions will be organised to discuss strategies for the growth of cooperatives as autonomous and competitive enterprises.

Addressing the Press Conference on Thursday Dr. Chandra Pal Singh, President, NCUI said that the Congress is the biggest image building exercise of the cooperative sector in India. He further said that the Congress is held at a time when the cooperatives face the challenge of competition in the economy.

There are more than 6 lakh cooperative societies in the country. The cooperatives have a strong presence in almost all the areas of socio-economic activities like agricultural credit, housing, sugar, milk, tourism, fishery, spinning, fertilisers, etc. Due to significant contributions of milk cooperatives, India is the largest producer of milk in the world. Amul, IFFCO and KRIBHCO are the biggest success stories in the cooperative sector.

National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT) organized Training Programme on Financial Management – Accounting principles and procedures recently at its Head Quarters, New Delhi.

The valedictory address was delivered by Sh. A.K. Das, Under Secretary, IFD Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Govt. of India. Dr. Dinesh, Director General, NCCT and Shri Mohan Kumar Mishra, Secretary, NCCT, were also present on the occasion.

The programme was aimed at enhancing the efficiency level of the Accounts keeping staff working at its RICMs/ICMs in the interest of infusing efficient financial administration in their day to day accounting matters.

Shri Mohan Kumar Mishra, Secretary, NCCT welcomed the dignitary from DOAC and briefed him about the issue. Shri A K Das emphasized the correct presentation of day to day accounts and preparation of Annual Accounts.

Dr. Dinesh, Chief Executive, National Cooperative Union of India and Director General NCCT, in his presidential address explained the need of such programmes to make professional decision making at NCCT training units level. The vote of thanks was presented by Shri B.S.Rohilla, Director (Finance), NCCT.

National Council for Cooperative Training(NCCT) organized Training Programme on Financial Management–Accounting principles and procedures from 20th to 26th May, 2013 at its Head Quarters, New Delhi.

The programme was inaugurated by the Dr. A.K. Bhutani IAS, Joint Secretary and Central Registrar Cooperative Societies, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India. Other dignitaries invited for this programme was Shri Avinash Chander, Technical Director, Institute of Charted Accounts of India, New Delhi.

Dr. Dinesh, Director General, NCCT and Shri Mohan Kumar Mishra, Secretary, NCCT, were also present on the occasion. The program was attended by NCCT staff posted at training units (20 nos.)spread across the state capitals in India. The basic purpose of this programme was to enhance the efficiency of the Accounts keeping staff.

In the beginning of the programme Shri Mohan Kumar Mishra, Secretary, NCCT welcomed all the dignitary and delegates on this occasion and briefed them about the need for enhancing financial management at its unit level. Dr.N.Ranjana Devi, Director (P) presented a Power point Presentation on functions of NCCT.

Shri.Avinash Chander, Technical Director, ICAI, New Delhi addressed the participants emphasizing the correct presentation of Financial aspect of Business transactions in the Books of Accounts.

Dr.A.K.Bhutani, IAS, Joint Secretary (Cooperation) and Central Registrar Cooperative Societies, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India in his inaugural address emphasized on the important of financial data post latest constitutional amendment in the interest of the real service to members of the Cooperatives.

Dr.Dinesh, Chief Executive, National Cooperative Union of India, Director General NCCT New Delhi, in his presidential address explained the need of organization of such programmes and further assured the government of India for efficient financial administration in the cooperative sector functioning. The vote of thanks was presented by Shri B.S.Rohilla, Director (Finance), NCCT to the all present.

Despite catering to the needs of nearly one billion people worldwide, cooperatives have failed to elicit matching response from the governments, said Dr Dinesh, Chief Executive of National Cooperative Union of India.

Dr Dinesh was, however, unsatisfied with the over-all performance of the cooperatives in India. Our International year of Cooperative pledge reads;“Cooperative enterprises build better world”. But how could we keep this pledge without professionalizing the cooperative team?

The relation of cooperative members to the cooperatives operating in Indian villages is restricted to getting a sack or two of fertilizers, seeds or other such requirements. He is not involved in its operations. There is no professional way of doing business, he lamented.

Unless the PACS become a whole game that survive on their own and conduct business through professional expertise, the slogan “cooperative builds better world” would sound hollow, he said in a frank chat with Indian Cooperative.

Mentioning America as an example, Dr Dinesh said 97 percent of the US’s energy needs are met through cooperatives. In Singapore majority of fair price shops are run through cooperatives, he added.

He felt that the government of India is ignoring the role of cooperatives for economic growth of the country. The absence of word “cooperative” in the five year plans for two consecutive terms comes as a shock to him.

If nuclear power could be generated by government and salt by TATAs why not allow cooperatives in the agricultural field where it is already doing 50 percent of the business, Dr Dinesh asked.

Over a judicious use of Education Fund, National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) and the largest farmers’ cooperative IFFCO are once again at loggerheads. The Education Fund Committee that met sometime back diverted a sum of Rs 2 crore for the purpose of renovating the auditorium which hosts most of cooperative as well as non-cooperative functions.

IFFCO dissented and said that cooperative education fund, as the name shows, should be used for education and training and not for any other purpose, no matter how important.

Talking to Indiancooperative.com, Dr G N Saxena, Director of cooperative Development at Iffco animatedly argued that two proposals were before the Committee- one of starting the printing press lying in a shambles for some time and second, of renovating the auditorium.

While the first proposal was rejected outright, the second was discussed threadbare. I, being a member of the Committee objected to the idea of diverting a sum from Education Fund. Mr R K Tiwary, Central Registrar is also believed to have opposed the idea.

But Financial Advisor Mr Agnihotri, one of the two government nominees other than the Central Registrar is said to have supported the idea of diverting money to renovation.

Talking to the Indiancooperative.com Dr Dinesh, Chief Executive and DG of NCCT defended the decision of Committee and said that the auditorium is very much a part of education and training and given its bad condition, something needed to be done urgently. The air conditioners, chairs and other facilities cry for immediate attention, he added.

But Dr Saxena differed. “The auditorium is given on lease to a private party and it is using it for commercial purposes. How can the Education Fund which is being contributed by farmers in a way, be diverted for commercial gains of a third party”, he asked?

In the seven member Education Committee, NCUI has a majority and could get its agenda passed. The members from NCUI are President, DG of NCCT and head of Vaikunth Mehta, say insiders.

There are two members from Multi State Cooperative Societies and they are Iffco and Saraswat Bank. Due to medical problems, Saraswat Bank Chairman Eknath Thakur could not make it to the meeting.

There are two government nominees-the Central Registrar and the Financial Advisor. With the government nominees more often than not being absent, it is cakewalk for NCUI, said a source. However, both the govt nominees were present in the last meeting. These are quarterly meetings.

A cash-starved NCUI has more than Rs 330 crore lying in the Education Fund and the issue of diversion of fund keeps cropping once in a while.

The 17^th Vaikunthbhai Mehta Lecture of National Cooperative Union of India, which was scheduled for Wednesday on 19^th September, has been postponed.

Talking to the Indian Cooperative NCUI Chief executive Dr Dinesh said that new date would be soon announced.

Renowned agriculture scientist and Rajya Sabha member M S Swaminathan had consented to be the  main speaker in this year’s Lecture .

NCUI press release said “Due to sudden illness of Chief Guest, the memorial lecture is postponed. The next date and time will be communicated to you shortly”.

People associated with NCUI were thrilled to have the famous scientist as the chief guest. Last year NCUI had succeeded in roping in NABARD Chairman Prakash Bakshi as the chief guest.

Mohan Mishra, the Publicity Director in NCUI and a person who is well-known in Delhi’s media circles has landed the much coveted post of the NCCT Chief.

The post had been lying vacant for a long time after its former head T Paramjyoti was found involved in the Lecturers‘ scam. The incident robbed NCUI of much of its sheen.

Two candidates were short-listed among the applicants and Mr Mishra, who studied at Delhi School of Economics, was finally selected.
Mr Mishra has vast experiences of cooperatives in general and NCUI in particular. People close to NCUI say it was Mohan Mishra who used to write speeches for cooperative leaders in the town and keep them informed of the latest in the cooperative sector.

Leaders would come to him to collect their speeches before embarking on journeys to attend international cooperative conferences.

Though the letter to relieve Mr Mishra has been received by NCUI, it is in quandary on the issue. There seems to be no replacement for him in the media cell at NCUI.

The decision is still more difficult as NCUI is caught in the throes of activities including Vaikunthlal Mehta Memorial Lecture, East Zone Cooperative conference in Bhuvneshwar and International Cooperative Congress on the occasion of IYC 2012.

On behalf of the Indian Cooperative Movement we were shocked to learn about the sudden demise of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the father of White Revolution, who transformed the India from a milk deficient country into one of the biggest milk producer in the world.

`Under his able leadership “Anand” became the milk capital of the country. His biggest contribution was to unite the millions of women and farmers in the dairy cooperative sector and create a household brand popularly known as AMUL and gave strong foundation to Gujarat Cooperative Milk and Marketing Federation, National Dairy Development Board and IRMA etc.

Dr. Kurien provided strong dynamism to the cooperative sector and effectively lobbied for providing a fair representation to the cooperatives at various world forums. With death of such a towering cooperative leader, a big void has been created in the Indian Cooperative Movement.

Dr. Kurien was a father figure of the entire cooperative movement of India with great vision and professional approach. He always emphasized on cooperative generating their own resources so that they may develop their own independent identity. We all cherish the fond memories of the association we had with him.

We convey our deepest condolences to his family members and pray to God to give them strength to bear this irreparable loss.

May his departed soul rest in peace.

–Chandra Pal Singh, President, NCUI

A high powered team comprising of President of National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) and Chief Executive met Union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday to solicit his help on a host of issues including holding seminar for popularization of Constitution amendment bill that enshrines right to form a cooperative into the list of Fundamental Rights.

Talking to Indian Cooperative NCUI Chief Executive said “We met Sharad Pawarji and sought his gracious presence on the occasion of national seminar for implementation of historic amendments in the states. He was kind enough to accept our invitation”.

The seminar has been scheduled for October 12 in N Delhi and participants from states have been invited.

“We are going to invite State cooperative Ministers, Registrars of cooperatives of states, Chairmen and Managing Directors of cooperative bodies. The idea is to give impetus to necessary changes in State’s laws so that the provisions of cooperative amendment act, 2009 are implemented in the states sooner than later”, said Dr Dinesh.

The Constitution (111th) Bill, 2009 also accorded right to set up a specialised agency on the lines of the Election Commission which can conduct elections of the cooperative societies.

If implemented faithfully the bill would usher in an era of professionalization and democratization thereby strengthening the cooperative movement. But state governments have not shown any interest even after the passage of the historic bill more than six months back.

The important provisions of bill include (1) Right to form cooperatives is a fundamental right(2) Cooperatives could set up agencies which would oversee elections (3) Uniformity in the tenure of Cooperative Board of Directors and (4) provisions for incorporation, regulation and winding up of co-operative societies based on the principles of democratic member-control, member-economic participation and autonomous functioning.

There are many states notable among them being Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra where elections in cooperatives have not been held for years. There are cases as in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha where the new political regimes sack the elected boards to suit their expediency.

Cooperators have been demanding constitution of a task force by NCUI to oversee the adoption of the amendment bill by the states. NCUI is alive to its job now!

The President of NCUI Dr Chandra Pal Singh met Union Agriculture Minister to solicit his cooperation in seeking appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the inauguration of the Cooperative Congress.

The apex cooperative organization is holding the International Cooperative Congress later this year, Dr Chandra Pal told Indian Cooperative. “We wish to ensure Prime Minister’s presence as this happens to be the International year of cooperatives”, Chandra Pal noted.

Enlisting the support of Prime Minister would help the cooperative leaders focus on issues vexing cooperatives for a long time, said the President.

Income tax is one such issue which if not resolved in time would threaten the very existence of the cooperative movement in the country, he added.

Chandra Pal said that the other issue pertains to the cooperative banks. No new urban cooperative banks have come up as the government has put embargo on licencing of the UCBs. There are many credit societies and groups of individuals who want to float urban cooperative banks but the government is out of sync with times and consequently the movement is suffering, he added.

It may be mentioned here that the Malegam Committee constituted to formulate the licensing norms has already submitted its report but the government is yet to clear it. There is also the issue of a two layered control of the Urban Cooperative Banks being resisted by a section of the UCBs.

But more importantly, the frequent governmental interferences have compromised the cooperatives. People-centric movement might need governmental support in the beginning but frequent governmental diktats rob it of legitimacy and a leadership-crisis ensues, he asserted.

Through the cooperative congress we wish to draw the Prime Minister’s attention to such pressing cooperative issues, Chandra Pal remarked.