Sahakar Bharati organized a national level conference on credit cooperatives at the ICAR, New Delhi on Saturday, which was inaugurated by the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in the presence of Union Minister of State for Cooperation BL Verma.
The conference was attended by Sahakar Bharati President DN Thakur, National General Secretary Uday Joshi, Nafcub President Jyotindra Mehta, Buldana Urban founder Chairman Radheshyam Chandak, BJP leader Annasaheb Shankar Jolle, Kaka Koyate, Prakash Velip, N.S. Jayakumar and others.
Addressing the participants who came from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to attend the event, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar sought the help of Sahakar Bharati in giving momentum to the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. “All the countrymen, including the cooperative sector, should join the Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra and take a pledge to make India fully developed in the Amrit Kaal”, said Tomar.
He further added that recognizing the challenges being faced by the cooperative sector, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed a separate Ministry of Cooperation and gave the ‘Sahakar Se Samridhi’ mantra. A drastic change could be seen in the cooperative sector under the leadership of Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, he said.
“The cooperative sector is mainly associated with rural areas and the contributions of the cooperative sector in making everything available to farmers easily, is commendable. PACS are being computerized in the country. Besides, the World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme has been announced in the country. The new initiatives will positively bring about a revolutionary change in the cooperative sector”, Tomar asserted.
Lauding the efforts of Sahakar Bharati, Tomar said, “Sahakar Bharti is providing dedicated services in the field of cooperation. The organization’s incredible slogan “Bina Sanskar Nahi Sahakar”, is becoming popular. An honest representative organization is necessary for the development of any sector and I can say with confidence that Sahakar Bharti is an organization that has capable and strong representatives working in the field of cooperatives”.the union minister remarked.
In his speech, Buldana Urban Chairman Radheshyam Chandak raised many issues plaguing credit cooperatives. “The credit co-operative sector is facing many problems in running their business. There are issues related to Income Tax, expansion of branch network, allowing credit co-op to recover loans under the SARFAESI Act, Platform to know CIBIL score of borrowers and others”, he said.
He further said, as we keep on receiving the news of the falling down of credit cooperatives, it is necessary
to create a body for protecting the money of depositors on the lines of DICGC. Mainly poor and downtrodden people park their money in Patsansthas and in their interest the step should be taken.
Sahakar Bharati National General Secretary Uday Joshi said, the credit cooperative should get permission to invest in government securities as well as Credit Co-ops be entitled to membership of National Payment Gateway. They should get the relief U/S 80P (2); 268 SS & ST without any discrimination, he said.
Union Minister of State for Cooperation BL Verma listed out the initiatives taken by the Union Ministry of Cooperative in strengthening the cooperative movement. From PACS computerization to opening of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to other initiatives were taken to make the cooperative sector viable.
Nafcub President Jyotindra Mehta urged the representatives of credit cooperatives to build credibility in society. Besides, these cooperatives engaged in credit business should be self-disciplined and focus on doubling the business in the next five years.
Prakash Velip proposed a vote of thanks.
