Indian Cooperative represented the cooperative sector in a discussion aired live on the Lok Sabha TV Wednesday evening on the theme of rural transformation through co-operatives. The topic came into a sharp focus in the wake of the speech delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the Laxmanrao Inamdar centenary celebrations held recently in Delhi.
Speaking on behalf of the co-operative sector, Indian Cooperative editor Ajay Jha tersely but tellingly sketched out how the co-operative model is superior to other models of the economy citing ”operation flood” as an example to buttress his argument. “Today fifty percent of sugar is produced by the cooperative sector and the story is the same about other aspects of rural life including the crucial agri-input fertilizer. IFFCO and Kribhco alone producing 35-40% of what the country needs”, Jha underlined.
Another Panelist Prahlad Patel, Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha who was one of the Union Ministers in Atal Bihari Bajpai Cabinet in the past said cooperative has to make itself immune to political interference. “No political party can enforce its diktat if the members of cooperatives are united”, he suggested.
Naresh Sirohi, who is a leader of BJP Kisan Morcha said cooperation is a part of Indian life even as he recounted many stories of water conservation and road building at village level by the cooperation of local people to substantiate his point. “If this is not being cooperative, what else is”, he asked underling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words in which he said cooperators should focus more on spirit than on co-op structure.
In reply to a question from the anchor Manoj Verma as to why co-operative has been a non-starter in northern India
compared to South and especially compared to Gujarat and Maharashtra, Indian Cooperative Editor explained” it’s cooperative leadership which unfortunately did not develop in the north; it required a Tribhuvan Patel to recognize the genius of Verghese Kurien to accomplish Amul in Gujarat”.
Corruption and rigged co-op elections were other issues which came in for mention. Patel felt that an objective assessment of co-ops like Amul, IFFCO is needed to know their worth. Jha disagreed saying “in the sea of failures, cooperatives like Amul and IFFCO are islands of consolation and there is a need to extend a whole-hearted support to such co-op organizations. Anomalies, if any, must be removed, however”, Jha added as he was trying to argue in detail.
Recounting the reactions of cooperators soon after the Prime Minister’s speech Jha also said those cooperators who believe in creativity felt buoyed up in their spirits as Modi underscored taking up new business by co-ops such as bee-keeping, poultry, weed-farming in sea and several other activities.
Prime Minister’s emphasis on agri-based cooperatives’ crucial role in transforming rural life was music to traditional cooperators’ ears, Jha added.
It is quite encouraging news that Indian Cooperatives are in sharp focus as never before.Congrats to Mr Ajay Jha for the bold declaration of urgency of support required to boost cooperative movement. Any program on cooperatives must focus on educating cooperators running their show with self respect and keeping mutuality in forefront.