Port Blair, Nov 15: The second day of 59th All India Cooperative Week-2012 was observed as ‘Inclusive and Equitable Growth through Cooperatives Day’ on Thursday, the 15thNovember 2012. In this connection, a seminar on the above-mentioned theme was organized in the Multipurpose Community Hall, Dairy Farm (Ward No.8), Port Blair – which was graced by Mr. D. V. Negi IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, A&N Islands as the Chief Guest.
Welcoming the gathering, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Chairman, Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Union said that every year the Cooperative Week (from 14th to 20th November) is celebrated by the Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Union in nooks and corners of these Islands – where awareness on cooperatives among local inhabitants is insufficient. Dairy Farm is such a locality, 80% of the residents whereof belong to lower-income group. Therefore, this place has been chosen to hold one day’s programme so that the residents of this locality may get optimum benefits available under cooperative sector, gaining knowledge through valuable speeches delivered by subject-experts. Mr. Sharma also added that realizing needs of the hour, a Training Centre on Tailoring and Fashion Designing has been opened at the same vicinity – where this year’s programme is going on. He emphasized on people’s awareness about ‘cooperation’ inasmuch as in the present days of unemployment, ‘cooperation’ is the one and only medium open to the isles’ youth to get their self-employment.
The Chief Guest Mr. D. V. Negi IFS, PCCF expressed his pleasure to learn that the A&N State Cooperative Union has shouldered the onus to train members/employees ofcooperative societies as well as employees of Govt. Agencies to upgrade their working skill by opening a Cooperative Training College of its own. The Chief Guest said that every year the Cooperative Week begins on the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Indian Prime Minister – who had a vision to give proper importance to cooperatives and he included the same in the Five Year Plans. Basically, the idea of cooperative started in our country, the Chief Guest said, to free rural Indian farmers who were habituated to take loan on high interests from private money-lenders. The Coop. Credit Societies Act came into existence in 1904. Now. at a rough estimate there are 4-5 Lakh cooperative societies in India member-strength of which is calculated to be around 20 Crores. No cooperative society can run smoothly unless each and every member(s) of it realizes that this is his own organization.
Speaking on the day’s subject, Mr. S. Suresh Babu, Principal, Rajiv Gandhi Cooperative Training College run and managed by the A&N State Cooperative Union, elaborated as to how the inclusive and equitable growth through cooperatives could be obtained. Mr. G. Ananthakrishan, Asstt. General Manager, NABARD, Port Blair in his speech focused on different schemes available in cooperative sector as well as with NABARD, too. The Programme ended with the vote of thanks proposed by Mr. P. G. Paul, Director, Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Union.
