Port Blair, Nov 15: Along with the rest of the country the Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Union with the support of Cooperative Department, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, NABARD, Port Blair, NCUI Project and other cooperative institutions of Andaman & Nicobar Islands organized the inaugural function of weeklong Cooperative Week celebration in the premises of Andaman Nicobar State Cooperative Union, Teylerabad. The main theme of this year’s celebration is India@75: Growth of Cooperative and Future Ahead.
The week-long function was inaugurated by Mr. Rajesh Goyal, Secretary (Coop)-cum-Registrar Cooperative Societies by hosting of Cooperative Flag in the presence of a huge number of cooperators in the premises of Union at Teylerabad. Mr. Rajesh Goyal, Chief Guest garlanded the portrait of Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister who convulsed India into Cooperative. Before commencing the function he lit the traditional lamp too. While addressing the huge gathering Mr. Rajesh Goyal the Chief Guest underlined the very important purpose of organizing the weeklong Celebration. He stressed the need of involvement of more members in cooperative affairs resulting in strengthening the movement. Further he said about 2,200 cooperatives already registered in Andaman out of which only 50% are functional. In order to involve the maximum number of members in Cooperative affairs he appealed to all cooperatives to convene their General Body meeting during the week-long program and conduct a membership drive campaign too.
A seminar on Ease-of-doing Business for Cooperatives, GeM and Export Promotion was organized by Andaman Nicobar State Cooperative Union. Further, he said there is lots of potential in the Tourism, handicraft and hospitality sector for promoting more cooperatives for employment generation. He appealed to the cooperators to explore the opportunities available in the sector for generating employment. Cooperatives help to abolish monopoly holding in the market. Mr. Kumar Harshavardhan, EDI put a light on the topic “Ease-of-doing Business for Cooperatives, GeM and Export Promotion”.
Mr. V Manoi, General Manager, NABARD also spoke on the occasion, highlighting various benefits available with NABARD for strengthening cooperation. Earlier Mr. Pushpalatha, Director, Andaman Nicobar State Cooperative Union welcomed the guests and participants. While the programme was concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Naresh Ram, CEI, NCUI.
