Chandra Pal inaugurates NCUI Centre of excellence at Noida

The apex body of cooperatives NCUI inaugurated its much-cherished Centre of excellence for co-operative training in Noida on Thursday. Spread over 3000 sq.mt area in Noida of NCR, the Centre would organize co-op training not only for Indians but also for overseas participants, informed Dr Chandra Pal Singh, the outgoing President of NCUI.

Chandra Pal said the NCCE space in Delhi’s office is too small but here at this Centre, we can conduct several batches and various diploma courses in co-op training. For the cooperative movement to succeed and to reach out to the last man, training is essential and I am sure this Centre would become the focal point of the co-op movement in the country, he added.

“Though I may not head NCUI but I promise all the help to the CE and others in making this world class”, added Chandra Pal in an emotionally charged voice. Chandra Pal, who is retiring as President on 23rd November said “You all–from the peon to the driver to the Chief Executive have supported me without even batting an eyelid for the last 10 years that I headed the apex body. Thank you”

The inauguration event was attended by several co-operators. While G H Amin and N Satyanarayan sat along with Chandra Pal for doing Pooja, Bijender Singh, S N Sharma, Nafed MD Sanjiv Chaddha, Vishal Singh, among others looked on from the dais. There were several employees of NCUI who had assembled on the occasion.

NCUI’s Chief Executive briefly introduced the purpose of the Centre. G H Amin, who headed and oversaw the construction of this Centre spoke how impressed he was after seeing a training centre in China. Bijender Singh, another Vice-President recalled how, practically in every GC meeting for the last 2-3 years, the issue of its construction was debated. He thanked the team for the speed displayed in its final construction.

Known for his sense of humour Bijender said in a lighter vein that while Amin has had many chances of inaugurating buildings, Chandra Pal had none. He was replying to peoples’ muted reaction that an undue haste has been shown in inaugurating the Centre even though the building is not finally completed.

It bears recall that in 2006, the Noida Authority had allotted an industrial plot of 3000 sq.mt area at B-81, Sector 80, Noida to NCUI for the project of printing purposes on leasehold basis for a period of 90 years.

The land was almost lost as NCUI started no activities, violating the Noida Authority norms. It was due to the intervention of the NCUI President and the CE that it could save it by paying a penalty as time extension charges.

Later NCUI wrote to Noida Authority “If NCUI restricts itself to printing activity, it may not be sustainable and hence the need to take up all other activities necessary for promotion of the economy through cooperatives. In line with the above, we are going to develop this plot as a centre of Excellence for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.”

It is a five-storey building with lab and hostel facilities, among other things. There is a Conference Hall at the top floor. This centre is going to be world class aimed at showcasing India’s achievements so far as the cooperative movement is concerned. “We, after all represent the strongest cooperative movement in the world and we must also have something to be proud of”, said the CE.