Dignitaries with members of registered cooperative societies during the 70th All India Cooperative Week celebration in Kohima on November 20. (Morung Photo)
8,877 registered cooperative societies in Nagaland
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 20
The need to strengthen the cooperative movement in Nagaland was stressed on during the observation of the 70th All India Cooperative Week celebration here today under the aegis of Office of the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Kohima with the theme ‘Role of Cooperatives in making India a $5 trillion economy & SDG.’
At present, there are 8,877 registered cooperative societies in Nagaland under the Cooperation Department, Government of Nagaland.
Addressing the concluding day of the weeklong celebration at the conference hall of Red Cross Building, Kohima Deputy Commissioner Kumar Ramnikanth maintained that the mass participation of people in the cooperative sector will help boost the state’s economy.
Noting that there are no big industrial activities in the state, Ramnikanth called upon the registered cooperative societies to widen their horizon and play a huge role in the cooperative sector. “We are still yet to achieve the economic potential of the state. We need to work hard,” he said.
Stressing on the need to utilize social capital, he said “If we work together, we can reach a milestone.” He also underscored the need to overcome mental block and focus on wider vision. Also touching on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), he said “We have to be very sustainable in our approach and aim for a brighter future.”
‘Nagas can be leaders in organic production’
Urging cooperative societies to tap into the organic market, Ramnikanth said “Nagas can be a leader in organic production.” He called upon them to exercise team work and grow together, adding, “Don't work in isolation. Share success stories together.” “We can achieve through cooperation,” he said.
Rokovisa Chase, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (DRCS) informed that the 70th All India Cooperative Week celebration was observed across the country from November 14 to 20 to take the cooperative movement forward in the country.
He urged the concerned cooperative societies in Nagaland to focus towards bigger membership and bigger ventures. Chase said that the Cooperation Department is not there to function as a granting agency for registered cooperative societies, but to connect them to various departments for availing schemes. He assured that the department is always there to facilitate and capacitate them for better performance and growth in the cooperative sector.
Later, Keren Swu, Executive Assistant (M&E), Food Processing Section, Department of Industries & Commerce Nagaland highlighted various schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries while Luidi Zeliang, Sector Manager, Nagaland State Cooperative Bank Limited spoke on programmes and schemes for cooperative societies under the banking sector.
Richard Belho from Zynorique Initiative, Agri Production & Marketing Cooperative Society, Kohima, spoke on the constraints, problems and potentials for marketing in the context of Nagaland.
