Co-op Week celebrations sweep across India, marking Co-op Spirit

The 71st All India Cooperative Week began on November 14, with celebrations held across India, emphasizing this year’s theme, “Role of Cooperatives in Building Viksit Bharat.”

Events have been organized nationwide, including in Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, and Odisha, highlighting the cooperative movement’s impact on local economies and community development.

As part of the 71st All India Cooperative Week, the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune celebrated the spirit of cooperation by partnering with the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and Bajaj Auto for ‘The Clean Fuel Rally’.

In Gangtok, Sikkim’s Cooperation Department inaugurated the week with a ceremony at Sahakari Bhawan, Tadong, led by Secretary Gloria Namchu, who hoisted the Cooperative Flag. Leaders such as Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang shared messages underscoring the government’s dedication to cooperative growth. Registrar officials highlighted the movement’s principles and announced awareness programs to be held throughout the state.

In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Cooperative Week was launched with a ceremony at the Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Union. Municipal Council Chairman Sudeep Rai Sharma stressed the importance of good governance within societies and urged cooperative members to engage in skill development programs to access government resources more effectively.

Highlighting the municipal council’s plans for local projects like aquariums and malls, Sharma emphasized the employment these initiatives would generate for self-help groups (SHGs) and cooperative members. He also advocated respect for Safai Mitras, who work to maintain community hygiene. Registrar S. Raju commended the cooperative movement’s growth on the islands, where the number of registered cooperatives has surged to over 2,200, with 47 PACS benefiting rural residents.

In Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir, Deputy Registrar Bhawani Atri inaugurated the celebrations, attended by representatives from local cooperative societies and banking officials. A similar event in Block Mahore saw members from various cooperative sectors, including poultry and tourism, gathering to strengthen community initiatives.

In Maharashtra, the Pune District Urban Cooperative Banks Association is leading the week’s activities, including an online Co-op Lecture Series covering topics like cooperative banking law and cybersecurity. Association President A.K. Sharma announced that millions of cooperative bank customers would receive messages on cooperative values, with signboards posted outside banks highlighting the strengths of cooperatives.

In Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi used the Cooperative Week platform to address disturbances within cooperative societies, warning against disruptive behavior and affirming his administration’s support for local farmers. Majhi announced a subsidy of Rs 800 per quintal for paddy farmers, contrasting his administration’s support with unfulfilled promises by the previous government.

Running until November 20, All India Cooperative Week will continue with programs and events, reinforcing the cooperative movement’s role in India’s development.