Pune based Federation of Multistate Co-operative Credit Societies (FMCCS) organized a two-day event titled ‘Sahakar Gaurav Sohala’ for multi-state credit cooperatives in Shirdi recently, in which Union Ministry of Cooperation Secretary Ashish Bhutani was the chief guest.
While addressing participants from various Multi-State Co-operative Societies, Bhutani urged credit societies to adopt modern technology to offer more secure and efficient services to their customers, he suggested.
He also emphasized the need for training to enhance transparency and improve the functioning of credit cooperatives. “Several credit societies have greatly contributed to promoting the habit of saving among the public. Many issues concerning cooperative and multi-state credit societies remain unresolved, but the Ministry of Cooperation is making efforts to maintain a balanced approach through regulations,” Bhutani noted.
Bhutani informed participants that a divisional-level workshop is tentatively scheduled for October to address the pending demands of credit societies in the state.
The event was attended by former Cooperation Minister Subhash Deshmukh, Buldana Urban Chairman Radheshyam Chandak, President of the State Credit Societies Federation Kaka Koyate, FMCCS President Suresh Wabale, Vice President Prof. Dr. Virupaksha Ankalkote Patil, Director S.S. Gadge, and District Deputy Registrar Ganeshpuri, among others.
In his speech, Deshmukh noted that India’s first Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is working tirelessly to strengthen the cooperative movement. He also mentioned that while many credit societies in Maharashtra are performing excellently, the sector has been tarnished by scams involving a few credit co-ops.
Kaka Koyate expressed the need for more support from the Ministry of Cooperation, stating, “The cooperative movement is contributing to making India an economic superpower, and the credit society movement is excelling.
Several demands of our federation have been pending with the Ministry of Cooperation for many years, and we request that you take the initiative to resolve them.” He also demanded that multi-state credit societies should be granted the same facilities and rights as banks.
In his introductory remarks, Suresh Wabale reiterated the demand for insurance protection for credit societies, similar to that offered by the Deposit Guarantee Corporation, and for loan recovery powers equivalent to those of banks.
The program was anchored by Surekha Lavande, while Shivajirao Kapale moved a vote of thanks.