Lakhan Lal Sahu- Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Union is using his BJP connection to spread cooperative values in schools of the state. A champion of involving youth in the cooperative movement, Sahu says unless youngsters get involved there is no future for the movement.
Sahu met Chief Minister Raman Singh and requested him to help him in reaching out to schools. Singh has reportedly asked all the District Magistrates to help the state cooperative union.
“We go to campus and explain to school students the role cooperatives can play in life. Propagating cooperative values among school students has been an exercise that has engaged us for quite some time now”, said Sahu.
There are fields such as tourism, transport and other related fields where youth can form cooperatives and get employment. We answer their ‘ queries and try to attract them toward the cooperative movement, says Sahu.
Upbeat about the CM’s support, Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Union is busy building a cooperative Bhavan no less impressive in size and architecture than that of the Uttrakhand State Cooperative Union.
Sahu who rose to prominence for demanding the Bharat Ratna for farmers is the Chairman of the state cooperative body. “We have handed over the job of construction to the PWD and it would be completed in the next one and a half years”, he unformed during his visit to the NCUI.
As of now, the Raman Singh government credited for being the model state in involving PACS in the paddy procurement has allotted 2 acres of land in a posh area of Raipur-the capital of Chhattisgarh for construction of the cooperative building.
“The govt has also granted Rs 6 crore for constructing the Bhavan and has assured us of meeting all construction expenses as and when they arise”, said Sahu.
Singing Raman Singh’s praises, Sahu said “the state govt has increased our annual grant from Rs 29 lakh to close to Rs 2crore over a period of time. The State Cooperative Union has about 40 staff members whose salaries are being met from this grant along with the rent of the office building.”
Joining in 2008 as its Chairman, Lakhan Lal Sahu has been instrumental in turning around the cooperative movement’s performance in the state, even his detractors agree. ” From one small room in 2008 we have now a huge building with so many people on the staff and a training hall. We are paying a monthly rent of Rs 50,000 – what bigger proof of our success you ask for” he shot back when reminded of a poor track record state cooperatives have had.