Shah asks Sahakar Bharati to work in states where co-op do not exist

Lauding Sahakar Bharati for strengthening the co-operative movement in the country without any self- interest or personal ambitions, Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah exhorted it to devise a strategy to focus on the states where there is a co-op vacuum due to political uncertainties.

Shah asked Sahakar Bharati to divide the country into three categories of cooperatively developed, developing and undeveloped states. There should be a separate strategy for each. “You have not only to build a structure of co-operative in villages of undeveloped states but also ensure that villages take up a cooperatively productive business”, asserted Shah.

The Union Minister was speaking in Lucknow on the occasion of the 7^th National Conference of Sahahkar Bharti. Shah was the Chief guest while State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was a guest of honour. There were many other VIPs at the dais including MoS B L Verma, Santosh Gangwar, Mukut Bihari Verma along with Sahakar Bharati officials including Ramesh Vaidya, Dr Uday Joshi, Ramashankar Jaiswal and Pravin Singh Jadaun.

Shah was brutally frank while dealing with many issues of the co-op sector. He not only assured Sahakar Bharati of all help but also asked them not to come only with problems but also with their solutions.

“Sahakar Bharati which works with noble intentions should make a policy document by forming a think tank and brainstorming on issues like fair co-op elections, open membership to co-ops, transparent recruitment procedures and many other such issues plaguing the sector”, said Shah. “Give us the policy document and we promise to take it to the states and formulate a national policy”, underlined the Minister.

Bowing to the co-operators’ wish on the need to change the old MSCS Act of 2002, Shah said “very soon we are going to put up the draft of an amended MSCS Act on our website and you would be given 45 days to react on it; we would amend the law keeping your points of view”, said Shah while reiterating that a new co-op policy would be notified sooner than later.

Shah also talked of training in co-ops and felt that unless a primary member is not trained, the entire process will not achieve its goal. He also talked of adding a new dimension to the co-op movement. “The ministry has already made a task force for this”, he informed.

Shah also advocated natural farming and thanked Amul for assuming the responsibility for preparing a Project Report for the same. “Farmers are to be convinced that natural farming could be profitable for them; We intend to take two states first for natural farming”, he said.

The Minister listed the contributions of the co-op sector in the economy by quoting what it does in the field of agri finance, fertilizer, dairy or sugar. The PM’s dream of making Atma Nirbhar Bharat is not possible without a robust co-op movement as other models may make a few rich but the co-op model alone can make everyone prosperous, underlined Shah.

Earlier, the state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the delegates and said that co-operative spirit runs through our genes. He gave the example of village functions conducted successfully without any help from the govt and with the cooperation of all.

Setting the agenda for discourse, Sahakar Bharati National General Secretary Dr Uday Joshi said there is a need to ensure the ease of doing business in co-ops. Once the entry norms are fulfilled there should be no more hassle in registration of co-ops, said Joshi. Emphasizing the need of imparting a new dimension to the co-op business model,he suggested coops in health, insurance and other fields should take shape in the country.

Joshi also informed that Sahakar Bharati is active today in 600 districts and in 27 states. “We have formed 20 Cells for the growth of various sectors such as weaving, fisheries, housing, law and other matters.

Pravin Singh Jadaun proposed a vote of thanks.