By Manoj Kushwaha

Speaking on the occasion of 58th All India Cooperative Week Prof  Abhijit Sen, Member  Planning Commission said that 12th five year Plan will push  cooperatives at the Centre stage.

In today’s fast changing world and stiff competition,  role of cooperatives for the marginalized and downtrodden segment needs no emphasis.  There are several  models  which are working on the principle of cooperation. Self-help group is a case in point which is empowering  women of the country through micro credit, he added.

Mr Sen also accused  cooperatives of failing this country even though agriculture, rural development and rural infrastructure need cooperative management for higher GDP.

At the time of crises of Indian economy, cooperative sector has stood like bulwark to the ill effect of recession and enabled sustain livelihood and provide rural purchasing power.

He emphasized that  cooperatives is a must for all form of business and among various kinds of cooperative organisations in the country.

Shri Shivaji Rao G. Patil, Chairman, National Heavy Engineering Cooperatives and Chairman, High Powered Committee on Cooperation said that cooperatives are the vital instrument for inclusive growth as it has the capacity to serve the small and marginal farmers and un-skilled and disadvantageous group of the economy.  He desired that role of cooperatives is important in the era of liberalisation to provide the protective shield to the ”Aam Aadmi”.

Shri Bijay Kumar, IAS, Managing Director, National Horticulture Board, Government of India emphasised the unique ownership pattern of cooperatives which places members of cooperatives in a better position in the market economy.  He said that value based business cooperative models are need of the hour as it give strength to the common masses who do not have enough capital in the market infusion, and said that cooperatives should enjoy the full autonomy without any interference for their functioning.

Dr. A.B. Shukla, Registrar Cooperative Societies of Government of NCT of Delhi said that the concept of cooperatives did not come from foreign shore but was part and parcel of Indian ethos and culture.  When we look at the functioning of the cooperative, he emphasised that Office Bearers should own the responsibility as also the success of their cooperatives and adhere to cooperative values and ethics as this is an ingredient for success of cooperatives.

Dr. Bijender Singh, Chairman, NAFED who was presiding over the inaugural function said that 58th All India Cooperative Week is held at a time when United Nation has declared 2012 as an International Year for Cooperatives. This will give ample opportunity for the cooperatives to promote their brands and visibility in the country.

Vote of thanks was proposed by Shri Ashok Dabas, Member of Governing Council of NCUI to the participants and the representatives of Cooperative Societies, Teachers and students of various schools and institutions who participated in the function.

Dr. Dinesh, Chief Executive, NCUI read out the messages received from VIPs and dignitaries on the occasion of 58th All India Cooperative Week.

Claiming to be capable of beating Planning Commission limitation of Rs 32 per day per citizen NCUI Preisdent Chandra Pal Singh Yadav asserted that cooperatives could make each of its member earn Rs 200 perday. He  called on  the  government to have more focus on cooperatives.

There  has not been  a word on cooperatives in the  five years plans   though  our membership counts   23 crores  lamented Mr Yadav on the eve of 58th All India Cooperative Week organized by National Cooperative Union of India in Delhi on Friday.

There are 6 lakh villages and we have one lakh PACs(Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society). Cooperatives can easily access the last man in the village, he said. But when in the entire budget speech we hear not a word on cooperatives, we feel pained, he added.

To a pointed question on corruption in cooperatives, President admitted its ill-effect and said we are opposed to it and would welcome investigating agencies doing their job. Readers can recall that NAFED scam has had the  entire cooperative world spinning on its head.

He said that in order to work on professional lines it is necessary  to strengthen the  cooperative HRD. India has the biggest network of HRD institutions in the cooperative sector in Asia but the existing infrastructure and fund availability are inadequate.

Many of the States are not in a position to offer the training programs and improve efficiency.  HRD in cooperative sector should be accorded a top priority by the Government to boost its efficiency and productivity so as to enable it to compete with the MNCs and Private sector, Dr Chandrapal  Singh  added.

Dr. Yadav informed that the cooperatives do not work for profits and  give  dividend to  their members. He said that the cooperatives are the only model for upliftment of the weaker sections of our society  and have  the capability to meet  any challenges in the field of rural credit, fertilizer, distribution of agriculture inputs, housing, fisheries etc. He said that, the cooperatives are the backbone of agriculture and rural economy and can reverse the migration from the  rural to the urban areas by creating stable means of  livelihood.

He pointed out that the Govt. support is crucial to the growth of   the cooperative sector  in the country. He demanded income tax exemption under 80-P of Income Tax Act to strengthen the capital formation of the cooperative institutions. He said that the cooperative sector opposes the Direct Tax Code Bill as the bill proposes to reduce tax rates for the corporate sector to 25% while  it retains  30% for the cooperatives. He informed that the year 2012 has been declared as the “International Year of Cooperatives” by United Nations.

Madhya Pradesh Cooperative Minister Shri Gourishankar Bisen has said that people increasingly see cooperatives as the last resort. While inaugurating a function on the eve of Cooperative Week in Bhopal he said that there is a need for better coordination between cooperative institutes and cooperative department of the government.

Giving bonanza, he also announced  50 per cent dearness allowance with the basic pay of the employees of Cooperative Federation.State Cooperative Federation Chairman Shri Arun Singh Tomar, Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Marketing Federation Chairman Shri Ramakant Bhargava, State Cooperative Housing Federation Chairman Shri Sushil Waswani, Madhya Pradesh State Agriculture And Rural Development Bank Chairman Shri Kishan Singh Bhatol and Commissioner Cooperative Shri Arun Pandey were present on the occasion.

Bisen claimed that the cooperatives have become beneficial to the farmers. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken a historical decision to give agricultural loan to the farmers at 3 per cent interest rate. He said that this is an example for the whole country. Cooperative revolution in the state is better than any other state, he added

Bisen also patted himself and his BJP govt on back for checking the  misappropriation of  society funds. He said that strong action has been initiated against the land mafia who deprived society members of the cooperative housing societies of plots of land.

What is needed today is to give wide publicity for the good work being done in the cooperative sector, added the Minister The State Cooperative Federation can play important role in this direction, he said. The cooperative institutions should cooperative with the Federation to strengthen it financially for this purpose, concluded the Minister.

On the eve of cooperative week the Himachal Pradesh government has said that cooperative movements should be strengthened in the state through employment oriented education and training.

Chief Minister P K Dhumal said that hydro-electric cooperatives should be constituted to inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship among educated unemployed youth, on the sidelines of the commencement of 57th Cooperative Week celebrations in the state.

He underlined the need for moral and ethical education of the co-operators by carrying periodic self audit and monitoring by higher authorities. The state government would reward cooperative societies with a good performance and punish the ones who don’t perform.

He said that 508 more posts had been sanctioned for HP State Cooperative Bank and Kangra Central Cooperative Bank under new staffing pattern approved by the State Government to bring efficiency in the functioning of the banks by increasing the strength from 3,726 to 4,234.

Dhumal added the state government had implemented the recommendations of Vaidyanathan Committee in the matter of signing of MoU between the Centre, Nabard and the state was under the active consideration of the Centre, which would grant autonomy to the cooperatives and benefit them through funding the cumulative losses and computerisation to the tune of Rs 70 crore.

He said the existing cooperatives had working capital of Rs 11,947.83 crore and disbursed short term agricultural and social welfare loans worth Rs 402.05 crore and long-term loans wroth Rs 49.79 crore for agriculture and non-agriculture activities.

Courtesy:PTI

On the eve of Nation Cooperative Week Mr Chandra Pal Singh, President of NCUI vowed to take cooperative movement to greater heights. In the Press Conference organized on 13 th November in Delhi he said that he would cooperate with government on certain issues but would not shy away from protesting if the movement is weakened.

Referring to Constitution amendment bill (which is likely to pass in the Parliament) Mr Singh said once it is passed, cooperatives institutions will not function at the whims of power that be. But on the issue of return of government share on book value he is ready to take the fight to street.

According to Multi State Society act, 2002, government allows societies to return share of government if they are capable and deem it fit. But according to sources Cabinet has decided to take back its share not on face value but on book value. It means share of Rs 10 becomes, say for example Rs 100.

Mr Chandra Pal said that it amounts to charging high money from the primary members. Such high prices will de motivate people from joining the cooperative movement and it is death knell for Nehru’s vision.

Other cooperative leaders such as Virendra Singh, Chairman of NCCF endorsed Singh’s view and said that he is standing shoulder to shoulder with him and would contribute to the great cause.

ICA-Asia Pacific Regional Director Mr Chan ho Choi said that one billion people are connected with cooperative movement world wide and as a recognition of this fact even UN has decided to celebrate Year 2012 as year of cooperative. Citing the presence of about 600 million cooperators in Asia alone he said that this is the most fertile land for the growth of the movement.

The function was attended by many cooperative leaders such as M L Khurana of Housing Federation B K Mishra of FISCOFED, R M Pandey of Labour federations and a host of journalists cutting across print and electronic media.

The National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) an apex organisation of Indian Cooperative Movement celebrates and sponsors All India Cooperative Week every year from 14th to 20th November to propagate the cooperative ideology and spirit in the country.

The objective behind the week long celebrations is giving an opportunity to all the cooperative institutions in India to review their progress, problems and highlight their achievements, policies and programmes.

The commencement of cooperative week also coincides with the birthday of Late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.

November is the most important month for cooperative movement in India. It is in this month that cooperatives from the primary level to apex level gear up to showcase their achievements.

India celebrates its Cooperative Week from 14th to 20th November. NCUI, the main player for the event is gearing up for the gala event.

During week long celebrations, cooperative societies aim at creating mass awareness. Debates and seminars are held.

This year the Indian Cooperative Movement will celebrate 56th All India Cooperative Week on nation-wide scale.

The objective behind the week long celebrations is to give an opportunity to all the cooperative institutions in India to review their progress, problems and highlight their achievements.

It is time for them to have a  road map for further growth and development of cooperative sector.

The commencement of cooperative week also coincides with the birthday of Late Pt.Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India.

The cooperative movement had support of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and others right from pre-independence days.

It has always been recognized as capable of turning the fate on nation. A cooperative society has power of penetrating rural India at a subtler level than even gram panchayat.

The organizations like IFFCO, KRIBHCO, AMUL and other cooperatives have not only witnessed rapid growth in their turnovers and profits but also have shown stability and sustainability in the economic slow down. This was possible due to our faith and trust in cooperative values and principles.

NCUI gears up for Cooperative Week celebrations

November is the most important month for cooperative movement in India. It is in this month that cooperatives from the primary level to apex level gear up to showcase their achievements.

India celebrates its Cooperative Week from 14th to 20th November. NCUI, the main player for the event is gearing up for the gala event.

During week long celebrations, cooperative societies aim at creating mass awareness. Debates and seminars are held.

This year the Indian Cooperative Movement will celebrate 56th All India Cooperative Week on nation-wide scale. The objective behind the week long celebrations is giving an opportunity to all the cooperative institutions in India to review their progress, problems and highlight their achievements, policies and programmes besides developing a road map for further growth and development of cooperative sector in the wake of economic slow-down.

The commencement of cooperative week also coincides with the birthday of Late Pt.Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India.

The cooperative movement had support of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and others right from pre-independence days.

It has always been recognized as capable of turning the fate on nation. A cooperative society has power of penetrating rural India at a subtler level than even gram panchayat.

The organizations like IFFCO, KRIBHCO, AMUL and other cooperatives have not only witnessed rapid growth in their turnovers and profits but also have shown stability and sustainability in the economic slow down. This was possible due to our faith and trust in cooperative values and principles.

But the most important thing is that the Cooperative Week Celebrations are not restricted  only to debates and deliberations.

This week let us pledge to involve general public in the movement. Let us have road shows where youths are attracted.

Let us convince them that cooperative offers an economic model capable of beating both capitalist and command economies.