The 70th All India Cooperative Week was celebrated from 14-20 November 2023 with the theme, “Role of Cooperatives in Making India a $5 trillion Economy & SDGs." Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on the eve of 70th All India Cooperative Week stated that cooperative sector has remained the focal point of various schemes introduced by the Government of India in the past 9 years and that cooperatives have a very crucial role in strengthening Indian economy, ensuring our villages turn self-reliant and making India a developed economy.
Hon'ble Union Cabinet Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala inaugurated the celebrations on 16 November at NCUI Headquarters in New Delhi. Citing various successful coop models from countries like America and Japan, Shri. Rupala noted that the lack of comprehensive employment data although cooperatives are significant job providers. He urged NCUI and other national cooperative federations to compile such information across the sector. He emphasized that cooperative membership is a prime asset to leverage upon by deploying 'Coop Sena' to build an ''AtmaNirbhar Bharat'' (self-dependent India). NCUI President, Mr. Dileep Sanghani acknowledged the suggestions of Shri Rupula, and said that NCUI is putting these in place. Dr Bijender Singh, Chairman of NAFED, India stated that cooperative image building is a must while Dr. US Awasthi, Managing Director of IFFCO stressed the need for cooperatives to grab the golden 'opportunity' to increase their membership and ensure younger generation, join the cooperative sector.
Shri. Rupala released two training modules: (1) Business Promotion & Diversification of PACS and (2) Training Module on Housing Cooperatives, developed by the National Cooperative Resource Centre, established under the aegis of NCUI. These modules were developed as per the directions of the Hon'ble Union Minister of Cooperation. The PACS training module merits special attention in the wake of the government's priority to revamp the functioning of PACS in a big way. Besides these two training modules, a fundamental book named 'Decoding the Cooperative Law' was also released.
Earlier, as a precursor to the week-long celebrations, the 3rd Cooperative Fair 2023 was held from November 3 to 8 November at NCUI in New Delhi. Pan-India artisans from 45 cooperatives, SHGs & FPOs had set up stalls and registered good sales this year as well.
Based on the Cooperative Week celebrations guidelines prepared by NCUI, cooperative organizations at national, state and district levels organize various events, conferences, seminars, workshops, etc during the Cooperative Week. Some of the details can be accessed here.
*Source: NCUI Facebook Page
