Coops can transform economy if dedicated professionals are involved: Punjab Governor BL Purohit

The National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) organized the Northern Zone Conference on Cooperative Development on August 29 at Mohali, Chandigarh, to discuss the achievements, problems and challenges before the cooperative movement in the Northern region of the country. The conference was attended by key representatives of cooperative organizations from the region. Key dignitaries, including Secretary/Registrar of Cooperative Departments from the states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir graced the function.

Dileep Sanghani, President, NCUI; Dr Bijender Singh, Vice President, NCUI; K. Sivadasan Nair, Vice President, NCUI; Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President, KRIBHCO; and Sunil Kumar Singh, Chairman, BISCOMAUN were present on the occasion. More than 400 officials of cooperative departments of Northern Zone states attended the conference.

Inaugurating the conference, Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit said that cooperatives with 100 per cent coverage in villages were meeting the needs of farmers by providing basic commodities at a fair price. He said that cooperatives were a strong medium for the prosperity of the youth and women in rural areas. The Governor said that the cooperatives could transform the economy if a pool of dedicated professionals were involved in the functioning of cooperatives. He also emphasized the need to strengthen cooperatives for nation-building.

Dr Banwari Lal, Minister of Cooperation in Haryana, said that the Cooperative Department in the state was functioning based on the thinking that cooperatives must reach all the villages so that more youth could be associated with cooperatives. He said that PACS were being computerized in the state and this task would be completed by November. Dr Lal said that the cooperative movement had been rejuvenated in the country with the formation of the Cooperation Ministry.

In her keynote address, Ravneet Kaur, Special Chief Secretary (Cooperation), Government of Punjab, said that cooperatives were the only medium for improving the living condition of the farmers and providing them basic necessities. Emphasizing the need for honesty and transparency in the working of cooperatives, she also said that stress must be laid on creating member awareness and strengthening cooperative education and training.

Dileep Sanghani, President, NCUI, said that based on the slogan of “Prosperity through Cooperation” of the Ministry and under the guidance of Minister Amit Shah necessary work has been undertaken regarding the formulation of National Cooperative Policy, model by-laws of PACS, amendments to Multistate Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, etc. He said that it is a must to involve more youth in the functioning of cooperatives by providing employment opportunities.

Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President, ICA-AP, Chairman, KRIBHCO, said that cooperatives could play an important role in creating $5trn economy, an ambitious goal set up by the Prime Minister. He said that cooperation as a subject should be introduced in the school, college and university syllabi. He also emphasized the need for increasing the number of members of cooperatives to 60 crore within 2–3 years.

Dr Bijender Singh, Vice President, NCUI and Chairman, NAFED, proposed the vote of thanks.