Agriculture and Cooperation minister G Kaito Aye disclosed that registration of 566 non-functional cooperative societies in the State had been cancelled to date and said the drive would continue in the future against all such non-functional cooperative societies.
Addressing the 69th All India Cooperative Week Celebration at Capital Convention Centre here Monday, he said that one of the major factors hindering progress and development of cooperative movement in Nagaland was the presence of non-functional cooperative societies and one-man cooperative societies. He also asked the Cooperation department to conduct workshops and sensitise the farmers on the Nagaland Co-operative Societies Act. He directed the department to reach out to villagers and assist them in connecting with financial agencies.
He said the cooperative movement began in Nagaland in 1946 with the establishment of two cooperative societies, while acknowledging the role of cooperative societies in promotion of economic and social well-being and in democratic planning.
Taking into consideration the important role of cooperative societies in development of the economy, he mentioned that a separate Ministry of Co-operation was established by the Central government in July 2021. He contended the cooperative movement in India with more than 8.5 lakh cooperative societies involved in various socio-economic activities was the largest in the world.
The minister said that the government had always taken a proactive role in promoting cooperative movement in Nagaland and initiated one village, one cooperative society where each household was represented in the co-operative society in recent years by taking advantage of social capital.
He explained that these cooperative societies would be the economic counterparts of village panchayats and provide all credit and non-credit services to the members.
He also disclosed that the Rs 52-crore Integrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP), a Centrally-sponsored scheme (CSS), was a four-year Compact Area Development Project that was currently being implemented in Kohima, Tuensang, Kiphire, Peren and Longleng districts and was nearing completion.
He claimed that six collection centres, 300 micro ATMs, 42 pick-up marketing vehicles, 18 marketing godowns, thee customised marketing buses, 304 piggery units, fruit preservation unit in Tuensang, marketing complex and 1,230 hectares of new agri/horti cultivation areas had come under ICDP.
He hoped that the cooperative movement in Nagaland would become strong as Nagaland had an organised community working together and develop a strong cooperative spirit.
Further, being a small department, Aye revealed that the Cooperation Department did not get huge funds and nor did it have any CSS. However he appreciated the department officials and staff for efficient management and their tireless efforts in contributing towards the development of the State and the nation.
He also urged NABARD, NEIDA, NCDC and other funding agencies to extend all possible help and assistance towards the cooperative movement in Nagaland.
He proposed that Cooperative Week should aim to strengthen the cooperative movement and focus on various activities of the cooperative societies, especially those working in rural areas, as they had become engines of socio-economic progress.
He hoped that cooperative societies would lead to sustainable development and wished the cooperative movement a success for socio-economic development of people, especially in rural areas.
Meanwhile, Chendang Village Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (IMPCS) of Tuensang district and Chedema Village IMPCS were awarded the best MPCS awards at the programme.
Project officer NCUI-CEFP Ketholenuo and managing director of NSCB Ltd Abhijit Deb and awardees also spoke on the occasion.
Registrar of cooperative societies Temjen Longkumer delivered the keynote address. The programme was chaired by commissioner secretary cooperation Sehjang Doungel.