International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) former board member Om Devi Malla has been elected as the first woman Chairperson of National Cooperative Federation of Nepal, in an election held on 12th January 2023. She is the first and the only woman to make it to the top post.
Interestingly, she received her co-op training from the Indian apex co-op body NCUI in the past. Malla has replaced Minraj Kadel.
Soon after her election, talking to the Indian Cooperative correspondent on phone, Malla said, “I am delighted to have become the first woman to occupy the top post of the apex body of Nepal Cooperatives-i.e. National Cooperative Federation of Nepal since its establishment”. She also thanked everyone on the occasion for their unstinted support .
“We will work together to take Nepal’s cooperative movement to newer heights. I was also the first woman who became a Member of Nepal’s Parliament”, said Malla.
This marks the first instance of a woman assuming the role of president in the federation since its establishment. The significance of this achievement was underscored by the outgoing president, Minraj Kadel, who highlighted that Om Devi Malla’s presidency represents a groundbreaking moment in the federation’s history.
The election results revealed that Malla secured her position unopposed, a testament to the confidence and support she garnered from the members. Prior to her presidency, leaders such as Keshav Badal and Deepak Prakash Baskota, along with Minraj Kadel, had helmed the federation. The unopposed election not only solidifies Malla’s leadership but also reflects the consensus and unity within the cooperative community.
The Annual General Meeting also saw the unopposed election of 25 members to the Board of Directors and three members to the Audit Supervisory Committee. Om Devi Malla, previously serving as the Senior Vice President, has a distinguished background, having also served as a global board member of the International Cooperative Alliance for one term. Her commitment to advancing the cooperative campaign was emphasized as she expressed her dedication to collaboration for the strengthening of the cooperative movement.
Ramesh Prasad Pokharel, previously the Vice President, was elected as the Senior Vice President. He also held the position of the outgoing chairman of Rashtriya Sahakari Bank. Other unopposed positions included Khem Bahadur Pathak, D.B. Basnet, and Indira Pant. Notably, the latest amendments to the regulations introduced three Vice Presidents for the first time. Bhim Tulachan, elected as the coordinator of the Accounting Supervision Committee, previously served as a director.
A roster of directors was selected, including Tekprasad Choulagai, Humakumari JC(Anju), Badriprasad Lamsal, Kashichandra Baral, Paritosh Paudyal, Hariharnath Yogi, Madhavprasad Joshi, Shambhuprasad, Chhatraprasad Rimal, Parvati Neupane, Tika Neupane, Nathuni Yadav, Premprasad Subedi Jaise, Suman Nepal, Homanath Jaise, Ekta Shah, Yogamaya Subedi, Sharda Dahal, and Kamala Kumari Subedi Paudel.
Furthermore, the Chief Election Officer, Himadevi Basnet, announced the unopposed election of Amarnath Neupane and Hemkumari Adhikari as members of the Accounts Supervision Committee.
The achievement of Om Devi Malla in breaking gender barriers was celebrated with hearty congratulations, and best wishes were extended not only to her but to the entire team of newly elected operators and the Audit Supervision Committee. The historic nature of Malla’s presidency was acknowledged, and optimism abounds for a successful and transformative tenure.
