Surat District Cooperative Union organized a massive cooperative conference last month in Surat, Gujarat in which a large number of farmers and prominent national and state cooperative leaders participated. It was the 16th District Cooperative Conference held at Maliba college in Mahuva-Tarsadi in the town.
The participants included Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President of NCUI, Vaghchi bhai Patel, Chairman of both KHIBHCO and NAFED, Shri Ghanshyambhai Amin, Vice President of NCUI and Chairman of Gujarat State Cooperative Union, Paresh Patel, Director Kribhco, Sunil Singh, Chairman Biscomaun, Shri Mansinhbhai Chairman of Gujarat State Sugar Cooperative Federation, Bhikhabhai Patel , Chairman Surat District Cooperative Union, Shri Babubahi PateL, Chairman of Cooperative Irrigation Federation and many others.
Chandrapal Singh Yadav who is also the Vice-chairman of ICA-AP inaugurated the Conference and said that cooperative movement of India is the largest movement in the world. Each and every sector of our existence is some way connected to cooperative. About 60 to 70 percent people of the country are farmers and cooperatives are active from farms to factories benefitting them. Farmers can hope of getting reasonable and fare price for their produce only in co-operative model of economy, Mr Yadav added.
Cooperatives serve the interest of downtrodden segment of society and the government should channelized their welfare schemes through cooperatives but unfortunately states and the central government do not do so, lamented NCUI President.
On seeing large women participation in the Surat cooperative gathering Chandra Pal congratulated the organizing team and said no other state can boast of such a huge women involvement in cooperative movement like Gujarat. Women energy should be used to strengthen the cooperative movement and they should be made to participate as trained professionals in cooperatives.
NCUI President also exhorted the farmers to unite as a lobby and we should together fight against imposition of Direct tax code in cooperatives.
On this occasion a book titled “ Sahkari Pravruti Ni Viteli Kshano” on the Gujarat cooperative movement was launched. Championed by the cooperative leaders of Surat as well as other state cooperative leaders, the book showcases them who sacrificed their lives strengthening the cooperative movement.
The book was launched at the hands of Shri Vaghchi Bhai Patel. Speaking on the occasion he said “many dedicated leaders were born in Gujarat to serve the nation and they never thought of themselves but were always concerned with the cooperative movement and with the interest of the country. He quoted the case of the Prince of Porbandar Shri Udaybhansinhji who formed land development bank on the lines of large cooperatives such as IFFCO, KHRIBHCO and AMUL.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Ghanshyambhai Amin, Chairman of the Gujarat State Cooperative Union and Vice President of NCUI emphasized on professionalization and training in cooperatives. Congratulating the board of Surat district cooperative union for organizing such a mega cooperative show in the form of 16th District Cooperative Conference, Amin said that it goes a long way in teaching cooperative volunteers about the latest trends of Cooperative movement. Surat district cooperative union is a vibrant union among all 21 unions affiliated with state union, he added.
Cooperatives have to work like professional institutions to compete with multinational companies for the best interest of socio-economic development of lower and middle class of society. SUMUL Dairy of Surat is an example as it procures 12 lacs ltrs milk and pays 6 crore rupees per day to dairy farmers. Cooperative institutions from NCUI to State co-op unions to District co-op Unions are concerned with the task of strengthening cooperatives and we will be as successful as are diamond and textile sector of Surat by professionalization and training, Amin said.
The Chairman of Gujarat State Sugar Cooperative Federation Shri Mansinhbhai said that cooperatives should make 
vision document to arrive at their goal keeping the deadline of time in mind. Sugar industry of Gujarat is solely based on cooperatives. But he lamented that income tax burden on the sugar cooperatives has affected the income of farmers.
Dr. Sunil Singh, Chairman of Biscomaun who came all the way from Patna to participate in the function on Amin’s invitation appreciated the vibrant cooperative movement of Gujarat and said” no doubt , it can serve as a role model for the states like Bihar”. Paresh Patel, Director of Kribhco also spoke on strengthening the cooperative movement in state.
It was Bhikhabhai Patel, the Chairman of Surat District Cooperative Union who was behind this mega cooperative show. Presiding over the conference he said that southern Gujarat cooperative movement has always believed in cooperative leadership by consensus. We do not allow any interference of politics and it is the key to our success.
The district cooperative Conference saw a large turnout of farmers who came from the remotest parts of the district. Shri Babubahi Patel, Chairman of Cooperative Irrigation Federation proposed vote of thanks.
