The Gujarat State Cooperative Union organised a seminar on Women Empowerment for the Presidents and Board of Directors of various cooperatives in the State on 26th December 2014. The Seminar was inaugurated by Anendiben Patel, the Chief Minister of the state. More than 1400 participants took part in this function and it was touted as one of the successful mega cooperative events of the year.
Giving time and attention, the Chief Minister Anandi Ben Patel made a strong pitch for women empowerment in the state through the means of cooperative. In her speech Mrs Patel said the cooperatives have to play important role for the women development, health and social security. Males have to change their attitude towards women.
Government on its part has taken up many steps for uplifting the lot of women. For the daughters the state government has designed a scheme under which the female will be assisted with 90 thousand rupees and male will be assisted with 75 thousand so that they can prepare themselves for various competitive exams such as I.A.S., I.P.S., I.F.O. etc. In the state police department, 33% reservation has been made for women, Mrs Anandi Ben expounded.
On the sidelines, she also emphasized that one should not go against the nature by injecting the livestock for obtaining extra milk. Milk producers should avail the benefits under the state Government’s scheme which will lead to increase in their economic capability.
The Chief Minister distributed cheques and new registration certificates to the women members of the Milk cooperative society on this occasion.
In the seminar Mr Narahari Amin who was the Guest of honour ans who is also the Deputy Chairman of State Planning commission said that women have special place in the society and she has to be respected. He said that the present Government has taken up various schemes for the women including financial assistance to them.
The seminar started with classical dance and lighting of the lamp. Mr G H Amin, Vice President of NCUI, and the President of Gujarat State Cooperative Union welcomed the guests. In his welcome address Amin said that cooperatives have played pivotal role in the national economy and Gujarat state cooperative movement is at the forefront of the movement. He recounted the success stories of IFFCO, Kribhco, AMUL, Badoli Sugars but cautioned that there are lot many things yet to be done for this movement to be meaningful for common man. He stressed on cooperative education and training in this context.
Amin used the opportunity to catch the attention of the Chief Minister on certain issues. He said that after Vaidhyanathan Committee MoU, most of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, District Cooperative Banks and State Cooperative Bank have stopped donating to the education fund. He also reminded the CM of the fact that many state governments are supporting state co-op unions by taking care of the salary part of the employees. He requested her to do the needful in case for the Gujarat State Cooperative Union too.
The seminar was also addressed by Ms Diptiben Patel, Chairman Women Committee of State Cooperative Union. She said that special care is needed for the women working in the cooperatives and offices of various departments in the States. Importance should be given to the women cooperatives and reservation should be given to the women for jobs and cooperatives.
The Seminar was attended by many top cooperative leaders, registrar of Cooperative Societies, Departmental officers, H.S.K.Tangirala, Director Udaybhansinhji Regional Institute of Cooperative Management, ArvindbhaiTagadia, Secretary, Gujarat State Cooperative Union.
