The valedictory event of the 17th India Cooperative Congress was held on Sunday at Pragati Maidan, in which Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla was the chief guest and the Union Minister of Fisheries & Animal Husbandry Parshottam Rupala was the guest of honour.
Addressing the cooperators who had come from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Birla said that cooperatives could play an important role in making India ‘Atma Nirbhar’ (self-reliant). Besides, the goal of the Prime Minister of India of achieving a USD 5 trillion economy can be achieved through co-ops.
“The economic model of cooperatives can be improved by encouraging efficiency, transparency and digitalization through collective efforts. Co-operation is in the mind, thought and action of Indians. After independence, cooperatives showed the path of progress and also learned to solve challenges through cooperation”, said the Lok Sabha speaker.
He further said, “Cooperatives played an important role in bringing socio-economic changes in India and bringing positive changes in the lives of farmers, laborers and women. With the help of co-ops, Indians got success in ushering in the White, Green and Blue Revolution”.
The Lok Sabha speaker said, “There was a time when questions were raised on the cooperative movement due to mismanagement and lack of transparency, but now time has changed. The Modi government has given a new direction to the cooperative movement by setting up a separate ministry for cooperation. The faith of the common man is increasing in the cooperatives”.
“At the time of independence, farmers were forced to take loans at the heavy rate of interest from money lenders but now in many states the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACCs) are giving loan upto Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh at zero rate of interest. Cooperatives are now active not only in rural areas but also in urban areas, catering to the financial needs of public”, Birla said.
In his speech, Parshottam Rupala said, “During the formation of America, the electricity condition was
very poor but taking the lead in this connection, the 900 co-ops improved the electrification of the country. In India, Amul, IFFCO, Kribhco, Nafed and other co-op organizations played a vital role in India’s development”.
He further emphasized on the initiatives taken by the Union Ministry of Cooperation in strengthening the cooperatives of the country. “The MoC took many new initiatives especially in making the Primary level cooperatives viable and vibrant. The PACCs can associate themselves in different types of activities which will make them economically strong”, said Rupala.
On this occasion, Rupala also gave the example of one of the co-ops namely Bal Gopal Bank at Idar, Gujarat. “The bank encourages the child to save money from the beginning of their life and put it into their account. And after 18 years, when she or he needs money for higher education to complete their desired goals, the bank provides all amounts with interest. And you will be surprised to note that today around Rs 16 crore is deposited in the bank”, said Rupala who received thunderous applause from the audience.
The Union Minister of Fisheries & Animal Husbandry asked the NCUI to work on the new targets and new projects where co-ops can mark their foot-prints.
In his welcome address, NCUI Chairman Dileepbhai Sanghani emphasized on bringing the synergy between the cooperatives and government for taking the cooperative movement to newer heights. “In the two-day event, the cooperators from Primary to State to District levels attended in large numbers. Many discussions on strengthening the cooperative movement took place”, Sanghani said.
On the occasion, former NCUI President Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav said the new initiatives launched by the Ministry of Cooperation in making the PACCs viable, will positively empower the rural economy. Cooperatives played a significant role in strengthening the economy of the country and the vision of the Prime Minister of India of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’ will be achieved through co-ops.
The dais was shared by the Central Registrar for Cooperative Societies Vijay Kumar, Nafed Chairman Bijendra Singh, Nafcub President Jyotindra Mehta, Biscomaun Chairman Sunil Kumar Singh and NCUI CE Sudhir Mahajan.
During the valedictory event IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi, Cosmos Bank Chairman Milind Kale, Sahakar Bharati National General Secretary Uday Joshi, and cooperators in large numbers attended the valedictory event.
