Cooperative societies in Nagaland asked to intensify activities
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 20
Cooperative societies across Nagaland have been asked to intensify their activities to help boost socio-economic development employment generation as well.
Cooperatives are not enterprises run just for short term profits, but are a business model for long term sustainability and inclusive growth.
This was conveyed during the culmination programme of 65th All India Cooperative Week celebration here at ARCS office in the presence of several cooperative societies under the state’s cooperation department.
Gracing the occasion as special guest, Longasen Lotha, SDO (C) Sadar Kohima encouraged the cooperative societies to focus on long term plan and succeed in their respective ventures.
He also asked them to take note of branding as an important component and also not to forget labeling and price tag of their products.
Talking on the role and functions of cooperative societies in the state, Vikosielie Nagi, SICS said that cooperative society is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
He said the objective of cooperative society is to promote the economic interest or general welfare of its members or of the public in accordance with cooperative principles.
He said the concept of cooperation has been accepted by all segments of people as non-violent, participatory and democratic enterprise to improve the socio-economic condition of the people in general and weaker section of the community in particular through cooperative ventures.
Promotion of cooperative sector in Nagaland
In Nagaland, Nagi said, the government through Cooperation Department continues to play a pivotal role in the promotion of cooperative sector with genuine cooperative entrepreneurship evolving into a mechanism of resources mobilization, regular income generation, gainful employment, wealth creation for socio-economic development.
He highlighted that Nagaland State Cooperative Union (NSCU) was set up in 1967 to impart cooperative education, training and information to members, Board of Directors, employees and prospective members of cooperatives on principles, practices and ideology of cooperation.
The NSCU act as a coordinate agency on all matters pertaining to cooperative education, to promote the development of cooperative movement, to create public opinion by convening conferences, seminars. exhibition etc. Established in 1966, the Nagaland State Cooperative Bank Ltd. SCB Ltd is the apex level credit institution in Nagaland.
It caters to agricultural credit requirement of the farmers of the state to make all sector of farmers self reliant. The NSCB also provide credit facilities to cooperatives on the need base to Self-Help Groups. The bank is also providing short term (ST) Middle term (MT) and long term (LT) loan to cooperative societies on need base.
Nagaland State Cooperative Marketing and Consumers Federation Ltd (MARCOFED) was organized in the year 1968 to provide marketing support to primary cooperatives of the state and supply consumer item to them as well as to the public through its retail outlets and to check hoarding, high pricing and adulteration by private traders.
Nagaland Apex Weavers & Artisans Cooperative Federation Ltd (WEAFED) was registered in 1990 to promote handloom and handicrafts sector in the state. The target of this federation is to promote the handloom, handicrafts which have potential in the state. In order to fully tap this potential, WEAFED has been availing financial assistance from the Development Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India for organizing exhibition- cum-sale coinciding with various festivals of Nagaland.
Nagaland State Dairv Cooperative Federation Ltd. (NADCF Ltd, MILCON NADCF Ltd) was organized and registered in the year 2002 for bringing the “White Revolution” in the state with a view to enhance milk production, procurement and marketing to uplift the socio-economic status of dairy farmers and to replicate the Anand Pattern (AMUL) comprising of 3-tier structure. The federation is also organized District Milk Producers Cooperative Union in Dimapur (DlMUL), Kohima and Mokokchung districts and Dairy Co-operative Societies in the state.
The Nagaland State Entrepreneurs Associates Thrift and Credit Cooperative Federation Ltd. (EATACOL) was registered in 2010 to build up a people's movement on Thrift and Credit culture in Nagaland. Since its inception EATACOL has mobilized its members and also mobilized farmers club to form primary thrift and credit cooperative societies. It conducts several workshops with various villages with a focus on unreached and unbanked. The main beneficiaries of the workshop are: Women weavers, Vegetable vendors, Livestock and Agri allied farmers, Micro enterprises, Grocery stores, panshops, butchers, flower growers etc.
The Basic root of primary agriculture cooperatives or so call Primary Agriculture Credit Society (PACS) was initially to make credit available to the needy farmers.
The main objectives of the PACS are to provide facilities for better farming, better business and better living. It also aims to carry cut work of common interest, economic interest and benefit to the members and thereby to ensure their increased welfare in every way. It also encourages thrift, self-help and mutual aid amongst the members.
About 65th All India Cooperative Week celebration
Ketholenuo, project officer NCUI Kohima in keynote address said that 65th All India Cooperative Week was celebrated by National Cooperative Union of India from November 14 to 20.
The week-long celebrative provide an opportunity for cooperatives to highlight their success stories, project their achievements and chalk out a future action plan which can provide a direction to the growth of the cooperative movement.
She said the cooperatives have played an important role in poverty-eradiation as they have successfully bridged the gap between the rich and the poor.
She said professionalism in the managed of the cooperative enterprises will upgrade the quality of the staff with latest developments and also develop a proper and cordial relationship between the managers and board of directors.
The Primary agriculture cooperative societies in the rural areas are the change agents for the rural prosperity. For this week long celebration, the National Cooperative Union of India, New Delhi has given the Guidelines through the State Cooperative Unions to celebrate the occasion.
The state’s department of cooperation under the leadership of Wepe Ritse, Registrar of Cooperative Societies along with the rest of the country has organized district level celebration in all the district headquarters headed by the concerned ARCS.
Under the theme “Inclusive growth and good governance through cooperatives for rural prosperity, the week-long celebration touched on “Cooperative marketing, processing and storage,” “ Cooperative key for organic farming and zero budget farming,” “Value addition and brand building through cooperatives,” “Building Public- private cooperative partnership,” “awareness of government schemes and income generation through cooperatives,” “cooperatives for youth women and weaker sections” and “Skill and technology upgradation through cooperatives. Vefuyi Vero, SICS highlighted government schemes in cooperation department.
PAR MPCS Ltd, Kenuozou, Vitho Industrial CS Ltd Sechii Zubza and Tuophema MPCS Ltd. Tuophema shared success story.
The function was chaired by Talikala Jamir, SRCS Kohima while welcome address was delivered by Anthony N. Yhome, deputy RCS in-charge of ARCS Kohima. Vote of thanks was proposed by Asasola Longkumer, SICS.
