Ministry advocates primacy of cooperative over panchayat

Inaugurating the one day conference of Chairmen and Managing Directors of the State Cooperative Unions organised in Delhi on Saturday, Dr. A.K. Bhutani, IAS Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation said that rural interventions in the country must be implemented through cooperatives, not Panchayat Raj institutions and for this Ministry of Agriculture will play an important role.

“Gram Panchayat is a political body, while cooperative is a voluntary association, “he elaborated. He further said that Govt. schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana should be promoted through cooperatives.

“For this the cooperatives in states must pursue the matter actively with the State Govts,” he said. The conference was organised by National Cooperative Union of India, an apex organisation of the cooperative movement in the country.
Chairmen/ Managing Directors of 30 states cooperative unions were present on the occasion to discuss the problems confronted by the cooperative movement in the states.

Mr. Bhutani assured full support in resources for strengthening the cooperative movement in the states based on certain conditions. He called for more coordination between the agriculture and cooperative departments in the states.

Shri V.P. Singh, President, Delhi State Cooperative Union speaking on the occasion said that passing of Constitutional Amendment Bill has given strength to the cooperative movement. As the Bill’s validity on the technical grounds has been questioned in Supreme Court, he said that pressures should be built up with the Law Ministry to remove the technical flaws. He welcomed the positive stand of Govt. towards cooperatives.

Dr. Chandrapal Pal Singh, President, National Cooperative Union of India lamented that the Union Budget for the last so many years does not mention the word ‘Cooperative’. He called for the Govt. to give financial assistance to state cooperative unions, which are in bad shape. He also called for greater youth participation in cooperatives. “For this Cooperation as a specific chapter in the school syllabus bust be introduced compulsorily,” he said.

Earlier, Dr. Dinesh, Chief Executive, NCUI in his initial address said that the state level conference is very significant for giving a new direction to the growth of the cooperative department in states. G.H. Amin, Vice President, NCUI proposed vote of thanks, and demanded that the Govt. should provide same budgetary support to NCUI for Central Sector Scheme as in the past so that Junior Cooperative Training Centres in states are strengthened.