On October 1st, 2024, Vyakti Vikas Kendra, India (VVKI), organized an orientation program for the Chairpersons of 25 newly registered cooperative societies from Mysore district at the Art of Living campus in Bangalore.
VVKI is working closely with CEDC and NCUI to register 500 multi-purpose cooperative societies across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
Nagaraj, Program Coordinator at VVKI, delivered the introductory address, providing an overview of the villages represented by these cooperatives.
Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, Chief Executive of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), served as the Chief Guest. He congratulated the participants for adopting the cooperative model to support their livelihoods.
Sumit Singh, Advisor (Strategy & Cooperation) at NCUI, elaborated on the advantages of the cooperative model over other business forms. He also highlighted key projects led by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperation (CEDC) in partnership with organizations like GIZ India, HCL Foundation, ISRA, and Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, all aimed at fostering regional models of cooperative growth.
Participants shared their experiences with their current enterprises, discussing challenges related to branding and business development.
Currently, the formalities for 123 such cooperatives in Karnataka have been completed, with applications for registration submitted.
The orientation program underscored the collaborative efforts between VVKI and NCUI to promote cooperative societies as sustainable economic models, especially in rural regions.