On the eve of New Year 2012, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to the fellow cooperators, employees, leaders and members of various cooperative societies and their families. The cooperative sectors play an important role in the mainstream of Indian Economy, agriculture & social development. They have direct & indirect impact on socio economic development and promote and support entrepreneurial development, creating productive employment, raising income, reducing poverty and creating social harmony in the society. Cooperative Societies has contributed significantly in bringing out green and white revolution in the country.
United Nations has proclaimed year 2012 as International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). I appeal to all the cooperative organization and various state governments and other stake holders to celebrate the year in a befitting manner, so that we are able to capitalize this unique opportunities to raise public awareness of value based cooperative model of enterprise and also create visibility of cooperatives by highlighting achievements, success stories, organizing seminars, workshops, conferences, fairs & melas, road shows etc. NCUI has planned to organize the 16th Indian Cooperative Congress with the theme “Cooperative Enterprises Better World” in the month of March / April 2012. I request the participation of all of you in the said conference. NCUI will also convene, South & East Zone Cooperative Conference in the month of March/April in the year 2012. We will bring out a statistical profile on Indian Cooperative Moment, to sensitize the youth of School & Colleges, a debate and quiz competition is also proposed during this year. Apart from these activities we will also organize leadership development programmes, training programmes & skill development programmes for the benefit of cooperative fraternity across the country.
We all know that sustainable & inclusive growth is the theme of 12th plan document of the country. In the recent years we have witnessed high economic growth in our country but the large sections of population have remained out a preview of the benefit of growth. The cooperatives promote growth with equity and are an appropriate institution for inclusive growth in the country. It is the only model for upliftment of disadvantageous and weaker section of our economy. The success of inclusive growth model will depend much on growth in rural areas, especially in the agriculture sector. The agriculture cooperative sector and urban cooperative banking sector has the capability to promote financial inclusion in the rural and semi rural areas. It may create job opportunities of various kinds from small and micro enterprises in the local areas to reverse the acute problem of migration of masses.
Recently, the Parliament has passed the 111th Constitution Amendment Bill while envisages cooperatives as autonomous and economically viable enterprises. If the cooperatives has to emerge as viable economical organsiation, their professionalization is highly essential in the time bound manner and NCUI being an apex body in cooperative education and training will have to gear up to meet this challenge effectively. Therefore, I urge all the stakeholders, members and personnel working in the cooperative sector to be open and receptive to programme an activities of professionalization.
On the eve of New Year let us rededicate and repose our faith on cooperative business model for socio economic development of our country and covey my best wishes to each of you for your continuous success with great zeal and enthusiasm.