BL Verma inaugurates 68th All India Cooperative Week
Inaugurating the 68th All India Cooperative Week and Cooperative Fair organized by the NCUI, BL Verma, Union Minister of State for Cooperation, said that the government was committed to the digitalization of PACS in the wake of the ambitious target of setting up 3 lakh PACS in the next five years.
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Inaugurating the 68th All India Cooperative Week and Cooperative Fair organized by the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), BL Verma, Union Minister of State for Cooperation, said that the government was committed to the digitalization of Primary Agriculture Cooperatives in the wake of the ambitious target of setting up 3 lakh Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the next five years.
He said that through software, PACS would be linked with the District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and State Cooperative Banks (SCBs), in which the role of NABARD would be vital.
The theme of this year's Cooperative Week celebrations is "Prosperity Through Cooperation". Cooperative Week is organised every year from 14th to 20th November to highlight the achievements of the cooperative movement and chalk out a growth strategy ahead.
For the first time during the Cooperative Week, a Cooperative Fair is being organized by NCUI in which more than 70 stalls of cooperatives/self-help groups (SHGs) are being put up in the country.
Verma also said that for the digitalization of PACS, the training of their officials is very important, in which the role of the NCUI as an apex body for cooperative education and training is vital. He also highlighted the good work of cooperative organisations like IFFCO, AMUL and Lijjat Papad.
Considering the problems voiced by many cooperative organisations regarding increasing RBI interference and control in the functioning of cooperative banks, the government in consultation with RBI and other institutions will come up with decisions favouring cooperatives soon, Verma said.
Dileep Sanghani, President, NCUI said that the decision of the government to bring in a new National Policy on Cooperatives is very important for their autonomous and professional functioning. He said that the new Ministry of Cooperation should ensure that the government does not neglect cooperatives in planning and budget formulation.
Dr Sudhir Mahajan, Chief Executive, NCUI, highlighted the various new initiatives of NCUI like the starting of NCUI Haat, under the aegis of which the Cooperative Fair is being organized, undertaking a study on the contribution of cooperatives in GDP, the operation of Skill Development Centre as a centre of excellence of cooperatives.
On this occasion, The Cooperator, the monthly magazine of NCUI, was released. Besides, the training brochures of NCCE (a training wing of NCUI) and the NCHF Bulletin were released.
