As part of the Week long celebrations of 68th All India Cooperative Week that commenced from 14th November, a grand District Level function was today organised by the Cooperative Department, Bandipora.Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad was the chief guest on the occasion while Additional District Development Commissioner Ali Afsar Khan, Joint Director Planning Imtiyaz Ahmad, Deputy Registrar Cooperatives Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, Assistant Registrar Mushtaq Ahmad Zaki and other senior officers of the district were present on the occasion.Speaking on the occasion Dr Owais highlighted the role of Cooperative in the Socio-economic upliftment and emphasized on the need for formation of new Cooperatives in different fields by involving more and more unemployed educated youth.While highlighting the success stories of some of the major cooperative societies of the country, Dr Owais urged the members to work religiously to make the cooperative movement a grand success. He stressed on the officers of Cooperative Department to work with dedication for achieving desired goals and advised participant Cooperators to focus on the fields of Dairy, Fishery, Horticulture and other potential areas and hoped that the department will make every effort towards a viable and vibrant Cooperative Movement in the District.Dr Owais also focused on the need to highlight successful initiatives in the cooperative sector among the masses to attract new talent into this sphere.
Earlier, the Additional District Development Commissioner Ali Afsar Khan unfurled the departmental flag and interacted with the members of cooperative societies of the district. He also inspected the stalls erected by different cooperative societies of the district who are providing different products including dairy products, agriculture tools, eatables, stationary etc on subsidized rates.Deputy Registrar Cooperatives in his inaugural address highlighted the achievements of the Cooperative Societies and informed that there are 18 functional cooperative societies in the district and are operating in diverse economic activities including sale of essential commodities viz. Kerosene Oil, Sugar, Fertilizers, Poultry and Dairy.He informed that these cooperative societies recorded a record business turnover of Rs 5.02 Crore during the current financial year till date including Rs 2.19 Cr in sale of Kerosene Oil, Rs 1.35 Cr in dairy, stationary, furniture and other computer accessories besides Rs 49 lakh in sale of Sugar.Joint Director Planning said that UT administration has taken pragmatic steps for revival of the Cooperative Sector and in this regard handsome financial Assistance is being provided to the Cooperative Societies under schemes, Repairs and renovation of Cooperative assets, Special Assistance and Managerial subsidy.The Guest speakers including Muhammad Muzaffar Shah and Advocate Mudasir also spoke at length on the history of the Cooperative Movement and its contribution in the Socio-economic development of the State/UT. They said the initiative of Cooperative Societies by involving themselves into the newer commercial gainful areas like business of Sugar, Fair Price Shops, Super Bazar and other activities have been appreciated by all.