The Government of India is setting up a national cooperative university, the bill for which has been tabled before the Lok Sabha in the budget session. Further, it will be taken up for getting approved in the next session. This was informed by the Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol in Pune today.
The Minister added that Government of India believes and strives to work with the aim that prosperity can be achieved through co-operation. A three-day international conference which was organized by the Union Ministry of Cooperation at the Vaikunth Mehta National Cooperative Society (VAMNICOM) in Pune concluded today.
The theme of conference was 'Generating Prosperity through Cooperatives: Digital Innovation and Value Chain'. Shri Muralidhar Mohol was present as the chief guest on the occasion. Speaking further, Shri Mohol said, “There has been sustainable development in rural areas due to cooperative sector.
The Government has made special efforts to strengthen the cooperative banks". Union MoS for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Shri Mohol informed that the conference in Pune was the first event by the Government in the International Year of Cooperatives.
The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025). The year's theme is "Cooperatives Build a Better World". Shri Mohol appreciated CICTAB and VAMNICOM for successfully organizing the conference.
He further said that the relations in the field of cooperation with the participating countries of Asia and Africa will be strengthened. Around 36 delegates from 12 countries, namely, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritius, Namibia, Sri Lanka and Zambia attended the conference.
In three days, experts gave guidance on topics like digital innovation in cooperatives, introduction of successful cooperatives, challenges and opportunities in value chain, sustainability in cooperatives, prosperity through cooperatives, global cooperation etc.
The dignitaries present on the occasion included the Director of Rural Management Institute, Anand, Gujarat Dr. Umakant Dash; Director, National Institute of Bank Management, Pune, Prof. Partha Ray; Lao PDR (Laos) Ministry of Rural Development, Agriculture and Forestry, Deputy Director General Anosak Phangthimavong; and Gambia Cooperative Registrar General Abba Jibril Sankareh among others.
The Center for International Cooperation and Training in Agricultural Banking (CICTAB) has organized this conference with the help of Vaikunth Mehta National Cooperative Society. The Director of VAMNICOM and CICTAB, Pune, Dr. Hema Yadav presented an overview of the three days of the conference.