MNREGA has contributed towards removing the unemployment of youth to some extent but a comprehensive solution of the unemployment problem of rural youth is possible only through labour cooperative, said Tariq Anwar, state agriculture minister at a function of National Labour Cooperative Federation of India (NLCF) in N Delhi on Saturday.

The function was inaugurated by the state agriculture minister Tariq Anwar and was attended by members of labour cooperative societies from Kerala to Kashmir.

The Minister assured the gathering of all help saying that aim of the govt and that of the cooperative is co-terminus-helping our poor and unorganized labour. You do not only have to organize them but make them earn more by imparting skill-training to them, said Mr Anwar.

But he emphasized on the need of cooperative getting economically viable on its own.

There is a difference between a cooperative and an NGO; cooperatives are not a charity organization and unless they earn for themselves, they cannot survive for long, said Central Registrar R K Tiwary speaking on the occasion.

Tiwary said that cooperative is primarily an economic unit and was conceived to provide easy loans to the farmers. A few years ago its share in such loan disbursal was more than 50 percent but in recent times it has come down to 17 percent. This has resulted into diminishing importance attached to the cooperative movement traditionally, the Central Registrar he added.

Congratulating the MD R N Pandey and Chairman Sanjiv Kushalkar on the large presence of women in the conference, Mr Tiwary said increased participation of youth and women are crucial for the success of the cooperative movement.

The occasion was also noteworthy for the release of Labour cooperative directory and several booklets on the sector. A few Primary Labour cooperative societies working at the grass- root level were also given awards for their exemplary performance. The list of awardees included ULCC,Kozhikode, Mattewal Cooperative Labour and Construction Society Amritsar, Mosjid Cooperative L&C Society Karnal, Bhillowasl Katcha Cooperative Labour and Construction Society Amritsar, Bala ji Cooperative L&C Society Gurgaon, Mahatma Phule Labour Cooperative society Dhule, Pooja Labour Cooperative Society Dhule, Shykka Cooperative Labour & Construction Society New Shimla, Shree Gurudeo Jungal Kamgar Sahakari Sanstha ,Gadchiroli and Kuwara Bhimsen Adiwasi Jungle Kamgar Sahakari Sanstha, Wardha

K Lingaiah,Vice-Chairman of NLCF proposed vote of thanks and requested the Minister and Central Registrar to award construction contract of the govt to the labour cooperatives.

The Annual General Body Meeting of NLCF was held on Thursday at Sarita Vihar in New Delhi. Sanjiv Kusalkar, Chairman of NLCF presided over the meeting in which about 72 delegates from member institutions participated.

NFCL has about 202 member societies.

The highlight of the meeting was NFCL Director Ashok Dabas. His presence was resented by some members. NFCL’s vice chairman Mr Lingayah, without naming him told that those who drag the cooperative federation to court, must face disciplinary action. Dabas was quick to catch the hint and said that he was ready to answer any question which the Chairman wishes to ask him on the subject.

Talking to Indian Cooperative.com later Mr Lingayah said that there is a board, a vice- chairman and a chairman; taking matter straight to Central registrar or court is un-cooperative.

NFCL Managing Director R N Pandey had had also episodes of fights with Ashok Dabas earlier. The Chairman Sanjiv Kushalker had also taken offence at the public ridicule of NFCL by Dabas at a function at NCUI last year.

An offended Kushalkar wrote letter to NCUI requesting termination of Dabas’s membership from the Governing Council. The matter is gathering dust in the red-tapes of NCUI file yet, though Dabas knocked the door of court and the matter ultimately went for arbitration.

Indian Cooperative has gathered that Dabas had approached NFCL Chairman Kushalkar for a patch-up. But forces inimical to Dabas are opposed to any such move.

At the meeting on Thursday, NLCF Chairman Mr Kushalkar highlighted the activities, problems and future planning of NLCF. The shrinking government grant made Kusalkar request members to cooperate with NLCF for making the payment of outstanding dues of annual subscription and share capital.

On this occasion members also put forward their point of views. Shri Rama Shankar Shukla of Etha(UP) suggested that NLCF should take the civil construction works from cooperative institutions. Shri Mewa Lal of Lucknow was of the view that NLCF should enter in the execution of housekeeping, garbage collection and maintenance work with the help of affiliated societies.

There is no fund for the national Federation of Labour cooperatives as its staffs go without salaries for months together. But one of its members from Uttar Pradesh, LACCFED became a multi-crore company in no time.

The Labour and Construction Cooperation Federation (LACCFED) involved in a multi-crore scam is under police investigation now.

There are serious allegations being levelled against the functionaries of the federation and several projects involving hundreds of crores of rupees are being enquired into by the police. All the allegations date back to the period when Mayawati was in power.

Talking to Indian Cooperative, the Managing Director of National Federation of Labour and Construction Cooperative Mr R M Pandey said t “though LACCFED is our member, we have no link to its business deals”.

The police investigation is mainly focused on finding out if the office of the federation operated from the premises owned by a political party or agency officials forged the papers for the purpose.

Initially, the federation was a minuscule entity handling a couple of lakhs but later the BSP govt. suddenly entrusted it with construction projects involving hundreds of crores of rupees. The sudden transformation of the federation   arouses suspicion, police say.

While one of the accused a former GM of the federation was recently arrested but was soon let off on bail, some of the accused are still evading arrest.

Sources say some political heavyweights are involved in the scam and police investigations are indicating in the direction.

BSP, however, has expressed its vehement anger at the insinuation that it has anything to do with the scam.

National Labour Cooperative Federation (NLCF) Chairman Sanjiv R Kusalkar has reacted strongly to charges leveled by Mr Ashok Dabas, one of the Directors of labour federation during a function at NCUI Complex in New Delhi.

Mr Kulaskar wondered in which capacity Mr Ashok Dabas attends Governing Council meeting of National Cooperative Federation of India (NCUI).In our August meeting his name was replaced by the name of Chairman and it was I who attended the AGM of NCUI. I intend to write to NCUI for deleting his name from the Governing Council list, he added.

 
Mr Kaulashkar informed indiancooperative.com that the charges leveled by Mr Dabas pertaining to misappropriation of fund are baseless. He said that the federation is passing through rough patches due to investing in the construction of five-storied office building in Delhi and  as is even struggling to pay salaries to its employees. Talk of misappropriation of fund in such a situation is only laughable, he added.

I travel to attend Federation’s meeting on my own expense. Even our directors of the Board do likewise. Berating Federation in a public meeting is not an admirable job, the Chairman added.

Readers may recall a story of Indian cooperative Open spat at NFCL programme at NCUI in which it was described how Ashok Dabas denigrated his own federation NFCL during vote of thanks in the programme aimed at highlighting the role of youth and women in cooperative movement by National Labour Cooperative Federation Labour (NLCF) at NCUI in Delhi.

Believing contrary pointy of view as soul of democracy we produce below the reaction of Shri Ashok Dabas on the article ” Open spat at NFCL programme at NCUI

I STRONGLY OBJECT TO THE MANNER, THE EVENT IS COVERED BY SOME REPOERTER OF THIS PORTAL. THE SAME IS NOT IN GOOD TASTE AND IT APPEARS THAT IT IS AIMED TO CREATE DIFFERENCES WITH LATENT PURPOSE.
TRUTH IS ALWAYS TRUTH AND SHALL PREVAIL. I HAVE GIVEN ABOUT TWENTY YEARS OF MY LIFE TO THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT AND THE LABOUR COOPEARTIVE MOVEMENT IS CLOSE TO MY HEART. I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO STRENGTHEN IT

TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES. SUPER BAZAR AN AILING COOPERATIVE IS REVIVED TODAY BECAUSE I TURNED EVERY STONE TO REVIVE IT FOR THE SAKE OF THOUSANDS OF ITS WORKERS. WHEN EVERYONE INCLUDING AMUL, NCCF, NAFED, NDDB,etc., DEEMED IT TO BE A DEADWOOD, INDIAN LABOUR COOPERATIVE SOCIETY OF WHICH I WAS THE CHAIRMAN, INTERVENED IN THE SUPREME COURT AND MADE IT POSSIBLE TO BE REVIVED.

SIMILARLY FOR NLCF ALSO I MOBILISED CAPITAL TO STRENGTHEN THE SHARE CAPITAL BASE OF NLCF. I ALSO GOT SOME CONSTRUCTION WORK ALLOTED TO NLCF. BESIDES AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF NLCF ON THE BOARD OF NCUI I HAVE BEEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING MORE PROGRAMMES ALLOTED TO THE TRAINING OF THE LABOUR COOPERATIVES. QUITE FREQUENTLLY AND ASSERTIVELY I HAVE BEEN RAISING THE CAUSE OF LABOUR COOPERATIVES AT VARIOUS FORUMS, WHICH IS A MATTER OF RECORD.

SO THERE CAN NOT BE ANY EFFORT ON MY PART TO DENIGRATE OR INSULT MY OWN ORGANISATION WHICH I AM NURTURING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.

FURTHER, I DO NOT NURTURE ANY HOSTILITIES AGAINST ANYBODY OR Mr.PANDEY, FOR THAT MATTER.

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER IN THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CALL “A SPADE – A SPADE.” OFCOURSE I NEVER MINCE WORDS, AS TRUTH IS TRUTH. NLCF IS NOT PERFORMING TO THE EXPECTED LEVELS WITH RECURRING LOSSES, AND ONE ONE MUST KNOW, WHERE WE STAND IN ORDER TO PROGRESS.

WELL I PRAISED Mr. MISHRA THE MD OF FISHCOFED, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT ?

FISHCOFED WAS A SINKING ORGANISATION AND Mr. MISHRA BROUGHT IT BACK ON ITS OWN FEET. SUCH A PERSON NEEDS TO BE PRAISED. ON THE OTHER HAND THE LABOUR FEDERATION WHICH HAS GREAT POTENTIAL, IS FAILING TO MEET ITS OBJECTIVES.

I WAS NOT COMPARING FISHCOFED WITH NLCF. IN FACT THERE IS NO COMPARISON, AS FISHCOFED HAS GONE MILES AHEAD, WHICH WE SHOULD TAKE AS A ROLE MODEL AND STIRVE TO JUSTIFY OUR POSITIONS. IF THE REPORTER OF THIS PORTAL OR Mr. PANDEY HAS TAKEN IT OTHERWISE, THEN IT IS YOUR PROBLEM.NOT MINE.

SO I DEMAND, YOU BEING A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN YOU MUST OFFER AN APOLOGY AND REPORT CORRECTLY.

Ashok Dabas

A programme aimed at highlighting the role of youth and women in cooperative movement by National Labour Cooperative Federation Labour(NLCF) at NCUI in Delhi turned sour with one of the Directors Ashok Dabas denigrating his own federation during “Vote of Thanks” speech.

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.

National Labour Cooperative Federation held its 35th Annual General Body on 26 th September in the Conference Hall of NLCF, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi and demanded that construction Contracts of cooperatives should be given to NLCF.

About 72 delegates from across the country participated in the AGM. Mr Sanjiv R. Kusalkar, Chairman, NLCF presided over the meeting. General Body approved the Balance Sheet and Annual Report of NLCF for the year 2011-12, Annual Work Programme and Budget for the year 2012-13.

The delegates also placed their views to strengthen the financial base of Federation by materializing the construction, minor repairing works. It was the view of General Body that all National Cooperative Federations should reserve their civil construction, minor repair, security as well as house keeping jobs for Labour Cooperatives and NLCF be considered as Nodal Agency for completing these jobs as per recommendations of NACLC.

It was also the opinion of delegates that bye-laws of the Federation should be amended for this purpose, if need be. General body also took note on the proposed Direct Tax Code Bill 2010, as said Bill is not in favour of Labour Cooperative Movement.

NLCF should do the needful to convince Ministry of Finance, Government of India to exempt the Labour Cooperative from the provisions of proposed Direct Tax Code Bill 2010, members felt.

General Body also demanded exemption of Labour Cooperative from EPF and Service Tax in the interest of weaker sections.

While Labour cooperative of India headed by R M Pandey is sitting idle in the hope of getting government support, here comes a private initiative by SEWA which can easily shame it death. Sewa has organized about 300 women into a construction cooperative and are bagging contracts which keep women worker busy.

Called Shree Rachaita Bandhkam Mahila Sewa Sahakari Mandli, it is active in Gujarat. This cooperative does all the work related to construction industry such as a masonry, plastering and other related works.

It is for nothing that Ela Bhatt, the founder of SEWA has been honoured by Harvard last month as reported earlier by Indiancooperative.com.

Rachaita Bandhkam Mahila Sewa Sahakari Mandli was started by Ramilaben Parmar.The cooperative talks to clients, like builders and construction companies to get contracts. A centralised tools and equipment library providing equipment to Rachaita members on reasonable rents helps them a lot.

Such examples, though on small scale point to a bright future for cooperatives, no doubt.

Fifth National Labour Cooperative Congress was held in NCUI auditorium on Wednesday in N Delhi.

National Labour Cooperatives Federation of India is an apex organization of Labour Cooperative Movement in the country. Role of Labour Cooperatives for generating employment to women and youth by increasing their technical efficiency was the theme of  Congress.

About 400 delegates from labour cooperatives , Special Invitees from Cooperative Sector, Senior Officers of Union Ministries and State Governments, NCDC, NABARD, NCUI, International Organizations i.e. ILO, ICA, participated in the said Congress.

Vilas Rao Deshmukh ji, Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India inaugurated the Congress.

The congress  reviewed  the implementation of recommendations of 4th National Labour Cooperative Congress and also considered the achievements and problems of Labour Cooperatives in detail.

Congress reviewed the concessions and facilities being provided by the different State Governments and Central Government Ministries and suggested ways and means for larger coverage of the population under Labour Cooperative Sector to the extent of 30% of weaker sections as against the present coverage of 10% .

Union Rural Development Minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh  said that infrastructure development projects should be implemented through labour cooperatives in rural areas in order to generate more employment.

Deshmukh, who inaugurated the fifth National Labour Cooperative Congress in N Delhi at NCUI auditorium, said the state government should prioritise labour cooperatives while allocating development projects like ‘Indira Awas Yojna’ and ‘Pradhanmantri Sadak Vikas Yojna’ in rural areas.

“Advocating exemption from direct taxes for rural labour cooperatives,” he said, and added that the Rural Development Ministry has consulted other departments for amendment in the new tax slabs.

Guaranteeing full support from the government, Deshmukh said: “Corruption prevailing in the cooperative structure should be checked and fund leakages should be rectified.”

Succumbing to pressure from standing committee members and corporators, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) commissioner has decided to allot works up to Rs 2.5 lakh on nominations basis to labour contract cooperative societies.

The cooperative societies should be formed with SCs, STs, Vadderas and individuals belonging to weaker sections, who are unemployed or retrenched engineers belonging to these communities.

As per a circular issued by the commissioner, zonal commissioners can give works up to Rs one lakh worth to societies in ordinary circumstances and Rs 1.5 lakh in the event of any urgency. Similarly, the GHMC standing committee can give works up to Rs two lakh in normal conditions and Rs 2.5 lakh in emergency situations.

The GHMC has to reserve 15 per cent of total works for allotment on nomination basis to these societies. Corporators have been demanding GHMC commissioner Sameer Sharma to give instructions to the engineering wing to allot works up to Rs two lakh on nomination basis without following any tender process.

As of now, works up to Rs one lakh are being allotted on nomination basis. But the commissioner refused to increase limit during the council meetings. The issue of enhancing the limit of works on nomination basis was also raised at the standing committee meetings and GHMC council meetings.

The standing committee said each society should not get more than two works in a financial year. “As the standing committee passed a resolution to implement the GO issued by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department in 1989, a circular has been issued to that effect,” GHMC engineer-in-chief P.Panduranga rao said.

However, some officials have been misusing nomination facility, which has to be used in emergency situations, and awarding works worth over Rs one lakh on nomination by splitting them into smaller contracts.

In the last one year, the GHMC has given works worth nearly Rs 25 crore on nomination basis in the city. Of them, Rs 15 crore worth works were given on nomination basis in South Zone limits alone based on recommendations of corporators.

GHMC sources feared the corporators, armed with the new circular, might recommend works to societies and individuals of their choice and the contractors might compromise on quality of work.