National Cooperation Policy Secretariat located in Vamnicom, Pune held the Regional Workshop on New National Cooperation Policy 2023 for the South Zone viz; Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Puducherry, Andaman Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep on 23rd November, 2023 at Apex Bank Training Centre, Bangalore in HYBRID mode, informs a press release.
The workshop was attended by around 210 participants such as RCS, Chairman, Board Members & Chief Executive Officers of State Cooperative Federations Banks, UCBs, DCCBs, Dairy Unions, & other officials and non-officials from leading cooperatives of States of South zone. Few committee members also joined the workshop.
The workshop was initiated by A C Diwakar, Additional RCS & Director of Cooperative Audit who welcomed and briefed participants about all the speakers.
Inaugurating the workshop, Suresh Prabhu, Chairman, National Cooperation Policy Committee emphasized that the cooperatives have the power, potential and capability to transform society.
Prabhu said that to use the full potential of the cooperative sector in India, a separate Ministry for the sector was established. He further shared that the new cooperation policy document was drafted keeping in mind the structure of the entire cooperative ecosystem. He elaborated that the recommendations of the policy on promoting vibrant cooperatives through PACs & bottom up initiatives will bring new energy in the cooperative sector to forge ahead.
Dr Hema Yadav, Director, VAMNICOM presented the highlights of the policy and the key recommendations such as Strengthening and Deepening Cooperative Movement, Legal Framework & Promoting Level Playing Field for Cooperatives, Credit Structure & Financing of Cooperatives and Collectives, Infrastructure and Technology Adoption, Governance and Networks of Sector Organizations, Education, Training, Research and Extension Services, Membership & Social Inclusion and Promotion of Vibrancy in the Sector and the Sector Enterprises.
Hema said that the draft policy recommends technology and smart governance, strengthening weaker
The prominent cooperative leaders who participated in the workshop include Satish Marathe, Director, RBI Central Board who spoke about Credit Structure & Financing of Cooperatives & Collectives, Dr C Pitchai, Professor and Chief, Gandhigram Rural institute who addressed on Education, Training & Research in Cooperatives.
Dr. Y. Dongre, Vice Chancellor, Chanakya University, Bangalore also participated and started his address by interacting with the audience in the local language so that the participants would have a better perspective about the workshop. He further highlighted the importance of Cooperation amongst Cooperatives.
D Krishna, Ex-CE of NAFCUB spoke about the importance of national level umbrella entities for the rural and urban cooperative banking sector and adequate capital support to the sector.
The workshop ended with a vote of thanks.