Port Blair, Nov 20: As part of the 59th All India Cooperative Week Celebration-2012, a seminar on ‘Empowerment of Women & Weaker Sections through Cooperatives’ was organized by the Andaman Nicobar State Cooperative Union in association with National Cooperative Union of India, New Delhi and A&N State Cooperative Bank at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar auditorium today.
The Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM inaugurated the seminar by lighting the ceremonial oil lamp. The Lt Governor also hoisted the Cooperative Union flag and garlanded the portrait of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, whose birth anniversary coincides with the Cooperative Week celebration.
The Lt Governor also gave away prizes to some of the outstanding Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACSs) and winners of various competitions organized amongst the school students to mark the Cooperative Week celebration. The Lt Governor also witnessed the handicraft products exhibited in the auditorium premises by some of the women SHGs which were self-made and really wonderful.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor congratulated the Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Union, National Cooperative Union of India, New Delhi and A&N Cooperative Bank for jointly organising befitting programmes to celebrate the 59th All India Cooperative Week–2012, from 14th to 20thNovember in the Islands. He stated that Cooperative Movement in the country was launched about hundred years ago and this year has been declared as International Year of Cooperatives by the United Nations. He noted with appreciation that the Cooperative movement in the Islands has gained popularity and is successful as a series of welfare schemes meant for the poor and weaker sections of the society are implemented through cooperatives.
He further stated that the objective of starting the Cooperative sector is not only earning profit but also to provide services to the people with distinction, especially to the farmers and poor sections of the society, women folk through various Cooperative modes. The Cooperative movement has progressed substantially throughout the world and scores of people are availing benefits through the network of Cooperative movement.
Referring to today’s theme “Empowerment of Women and Weaker Section through Cooperatives”, he stated that the theme is very meaningful and relevant to our Islands as women play an important role in the overall development of the society. The Government of India in their National Common Minimum Programme has laid down six basic principles of governance, one of which is to empower women politically, educationally, economically and legally. He further stated that it is our duty to give due respect and protection to women and make them self-sufficient and cooperatives is the best way to make them self-reliant.
Referring to the issues raised by the GM, NABARD, he stated that the Administration had been taking up with the Central government for special consideration on issues concerning the development of Cooperatives in the Islands. The Lt Governor also expressed his happiness that more than 70000 women members all over the Islands have joined hands in this movement. He suggested them that whatever project they start with the support and assistance of the Cooperative Bank, they must strive to make the project successful.
In his address on the occasion, the General Manager, NABARD, Mr. S. Athirstavel expressed his gratitude towards the Lt Governor for accepting the request of NABARD for grant of financial assistance to all the cooperative societies of the A&N Islands for a period of five years and also for vigorously taking up with the Central government for waiving of loan and interest amount of the tsunami affected fishermen of the islands. He further requested for 4% interest rebate on loan availed from the Cooperative Bank by farmers under Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and taking up the issue of opening of more cooperative bank branches in different parts of the Islands.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chairman, A&N State Cooperative Bank, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma informed that during the 59th All India Cooperative Week Celebration-2012, which is being celebrated from 14th to 20th November 2012, various programmes were organized in rural areas of the Islands. He further informed that the Cooperative Bank will shortly launch a scheme for the welfare of the women wherein low interest rate loans will be provided to the women so that they can start their own self-employment ventures.
The Chief Secretary, Chairperson, SWAB, Adhyaksha, Zilla Parishad (SA), senior officers of the Administration, representatives of various Cooperative societies, members of various SHGs etc. were present on the occasion.
