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DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES RE-EMPHASIZED - ALL INDIA CONFERENCE ON COOPERATIVES HELD TODAY
New Delhi ~ July 20, 2001
Emphasizing on the special role of cooperatives in the liberalized market economy Shri J.N.L Srivastava Secretary (Agriculture & Cooperation) said that cooperative movement will rise to the challenge of the time and develop the required work culture with transparency, accountability, quality service, professionalism and enlightened leadership with a domestic framework. Apart from building up strong and effective leadership
the cooperatives will have to focus more on professional management and human resource development. This was stated by Shri Srivastava while inaugurating a conference of Secretaries of Cooperation Departments and Registrars of Cooperative Societies of various States and Union Territories held today.
Shri Srivastava said that recently announced National Policy on Agriculture was designed to help the farm sector meet the challenges of economic liberalization and to provide active support to the cooperative form of enterprise. He highlighted the need for major investments on the part of Governments the private sector and farmers' organisations like cooperatives in irrigation, agro-input delivery, post harvest, management and extension for achieving the objectives of doubling food production within a decade.
Shri Srivastava indicated that the National Policy on cooperatives which was in the final stages of preparation would emphasize on alround development of cooperatives. It would seek to reduce regional imbalances in cooperative development. He urged State Governments to amend their cooperative societies' Acts on the lines of the Model Cooperative Law to provide for a new regime for growth of cooperatives.
Referring to the important developmental role of NCDC he underscored the need for re-orienting and enlarging NCDC's scope and mandate. In this context he added that a draft Bill for amending the NCDC Act was currently under scrutiny of the Government. Besides seeking to convert NCDC into an equity-based body the amendments proposed would invest the Corporation with the necessary functional and operational freedom. Amendment of the NCDC Act would also necessitate strict appraisal and effective monitoring of projects on the part of NCDC he stated.
In his address Shri P.K Mishra, Managing Director - NCDC observed that the new trade regime under WTO had brought both challenges and opportunities for various players in the field of economic development including cooperatives. He stated that decline in developmental support to cooperatives from Governments and liberalization of cooperative laws were changing the environment in which cooperatives had to operate. Inefficient management, lack of linkages, out-dated technology, poor recovery and lack of commitment to cooperative principles had further complicated the situation. He called for appropriate measures based on a SWOT (Strength Weakness Opportunities Threats) analysis of the cooperative sector.
Shri Mishra said that the proposed amendment of the NCDC Act would help NCDC to diversify its programmes. Highlighting the constant endeavour of the Corporation for improving its policies and programmes he referred to a number of new initiatives taken by the NCDC for the benefit of cooperatives including the introduction of a scheme of awards for good performance at the primary level. He stressed the need for upgrading the capabilities of cooperatives by transfer of technology and human resource development. The emerging scenario called for strategic partnership within he cooperatives as well as between the cooperatives and the corporate sectors he said.
Presentation on various activities and schemes were made by NCDC for the benefit of the delegates. Representatives of some States also made resentations about the status of cooperative development in their respective States.
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