‘Cooperatives contributed to economic & leadership development’

KATHMANDU: The representatives from different countries participating in the 3rd National Cooperative General Conference emphasized that equal cooperation in cooperatives will lead to economic development of the country as well as leadership development.

Representatives from various countries gave presentations on the issue of equal cooperation of cooperatives and emphasized this point during the first panel discussion on the second day (Friday) of the 3rd National Cooperative General Conference, which was jointly organized by the National Cooperative Federation and the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation.

Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, former Finance Minister, moderated the panel discussion. Melina Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Cooperative Mutual, who participated from Australia, stated that the cooperative’s collaboration has stressed the cooperative’s significant contribution to the country’s GDP and economic growth.

Similarly, while giving her presentation, she emphasized on cooperation between economic participation and autonomy and freedom education, training and awareness cooperatives. She emphasized that women’s cooperation in cooperatives has also contributed to the development of rural areas along with leadership skills.

Similarly, she said in her presentation that cooperative cooperation had a significant part in the growth of the country’s economic development. According to Balu Ahir, regional director of ICA AP representing India, cooperatives have recently profited from equal cooperation in cooperatives. He went on to say that women’s engagement in cooperatives had aided the country’s economic progress. During his presentation, he also inquired whether there had been any recent deviation in cooperatives. He also highlighted that the joint campaign should not deviate.

He stated that there has recently been a difficulty in the cooperative due to a departure in the cooperative campaign. He emphasized that cooperatives are groups that function under their own regulations, and that the government should only help cooperatives with their difficulties, rather than controlling and guiding them.

Similarly, another speaker, Pankaj Kumar Banshal, MD of the National Cooperative Development Corporation of India, spoke about the identity crisis of cooperatives. Former Finance Minister Dr. Yuba Raj, while facilitating the panel discussion, said that Pankaj Banshal emphasized that cooperatives should be made trustworthy and run on their own initiative. He said that there is a big challenge to the trustworthiness of the cooperative because the cooperative does not abide by its own rules. He mentioned that the development of cooperative leadership in cooperatives has also contributed to the sustainable development of the country.

Senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit stated that conveying cooperative sector news is a mandatory job of the communication sector and that the cooperative sector holds the country’s destiny. In response to the first panel discussion’s queries, Dr. Khatiwada stated that a separate cooperative statute is required to regulate cooperatives. He proposed that cooperatives not be governed by the National Bank and that an agency be established.

The General Conference will last till the 25th. In the program, 11 national and foreign specialists will present papers. The meeting drew over 1,000 attendees from 70 districts.