During the International Raiffeisen Union board and Presidium meeting held last week in Brussels, Belgium, NCUI President Dileep Sanghani discussed India’s cooperative movement in general and NCUI’s role in particular.
Sanghani was invited by the IRU & CERA to Belgium on the occasion of celebrations of the 130th anniversary of IRU esteemed member organisation CERA and the 30th anniversary of the Belgian Raiffeisen Foundation (BRS). Another participant from India was Nandini Azad who is on IRU Board.
The IRU comprises 50 members in 33 countries and from India NCUI, Nafscob, Nafcub, ICNW, NAFCARD are its members. Sanghani was accompanied by NCUI Deputy CEO Savitiri Singh.
Speaking on the occasion Sanghani said, “The cooperative movement has been a major contributor in various economic sectors of India and the cooperative sector’s percentage share comprises – 19% in agricultural distribution, 35% in fertilizer distribution (including 25% of total urea production), 29% in spindle, 13% in wheat production, 20% in paddy, and 21% in fisheries and the share of cooperative sugar mills is 31% in the country’s total sugar production, and 10% share in procurement and distribution of milk.
“The total membership of NCUI is 282 which represents 0.8 Million (8 lakh) cooperative societies, and 400 Million (40 crore) individual members. As per the bye-laws of NCUI, the mandate laid down are to promote and develop the co-operative movement in India, to educate, guide and assist the people in their efforts to build up and expand the co-operative sector and serve as an exponent of co-operative opinion in accordance with co-operative values and principles”, he informed the participants.
He said that in the recent past, the NCUI has started various new activities for the benefit of the members such as, NCUI Craft Centre: NCUI Haat was opened on 16 August 2021 to showcase the quality products made by SHGs and lesser-known cooperatives., App on NCUI Haat is being developed as an interface between producers and buyers.
The other initiatives relate to “NCUI Skill Development Centre being developed for focused intervention to build the capacity of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), NCUI collaborating with various specialised organisations to improve quality of programmes and member services, E-learning App for Cooperatives – NCUI planning to launch an e-learning app for cooperatives which will facilitate e-learning at own pace and time for members, non-officials, employees and potential members etc, Sanghani who is also the IFFCO Chairman added.
