After establishing the Ministry of Cooperation for strengthening cooperatives in the country, the Government is now mulling creation of a cooperative brand “Proudly Co-op” which it wants not to be restricted just to India but present world over.
Seeking support from Dr. Ariel Guarco, President, International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), in this initiative, Sundeep Kumar Nayak, Managing Director of the National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC), said that such a brand would help to empower poor people, many of whom are part of various cooperatives operating across the country. Guarco was in India recently to accelerate and strengthen the campaign of Indian cooperatives.
Assuring all support, Guarco, who is himself a corporator from Argentina said resilience shown by cooperatives world over during the Covid-19 has demonstrated that it is with cooperation and not competition that the society can move forward to achieve economic growth, social solidarity and sustainability. Guarco, who was at the NCDC Headquarters for the second time, on Monday described Amul and IFFCO as “headlights” in the world showcasing a path for healthy growth of cooperatives.
Nayak also sought ICA’s cooperation in three areas including setting up a centre on global best practices in cooperatives in India, boosting cooperative-to-cooperative exports for creating new opportunities and holding a special session on the new cooperatives at the World Cooperative Congress slated year-end in Seoul.
Dr. Chandra Pal Singh, President Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO) said, with the formation of the new Ministry, the Government is keen to work on “Sahakar se Samriddhi” and NCDC by providing loan is helping in development of the cooperatives and hence to the poor people and farmers at the last mile.