Negligence of cooperative societies decried
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 15 2021:
Representatives of several women's cooperative societies have decried the non-implementation of schemes and projects sanctioned by the Centre for cooperative societies and said that ignoring the cooperative societies will render the existence of cooperative department meaningless.
Addressing a press meet at the office premises of Renu Handloom and Handicraft Cooperative Society Limited at Mantripukhri on Thursday, its secretary Arambam Renu, alleged that the state government has been suppressing a project for women's cooperative societies in the state sanctioned in 2018 under Integrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP) .
Renu said that PM Modi personally presented the Laxman Rao In-amdar National Award 2017 to her for her works in cooperative society sector.
After that the Modi government revived ICDP, which was struck down in 2004-05, and awarded the project to the state.
NCDC teams have completed field visits and verification of relevant documents for implementation of the project, which was advised to be taken up in Imphal West, Imphal East, Jiribam, Ukhrul, Kangpokpi and Tamenglong districts.
The state government would be the guarantor of the project, which will provide benefits to weavers registered under cooperative societies.
Ignoring the cooperative societies and failure to implement the project sanctioned in 2018 till date is a serious matter and if this situation is going to persist, it would be better to dissolve the cooperative department, she said.
Kontha Ahallup Khunyai Weaving Cooperative Society Limited secretary Irengbam Jamuna said that ICD project was supposed to help the cooperative societies function to their full capacity.
The existing cooperative societies have good track records in repayment of bank loan, she said.
Informing that they have approached the CM on numerous occasions in this regard, she urged the government to strengthen the cooperative department in order to make the cooperative sector in the state vibrant.
The cooperative societies might take up extreme measures if the government continues to ignore them and fails to implement the project by the end of July, she said.
Representatives of Model Weavers' Handloom and Handicraft Cooperative Society Limited, Karam Awang Leikai Handloom and Handicraft Cooperative Society Limited, Phouoibi Handloom and Handicraft Cooperative Society Limited, Khabam Maning Leikai Weaving Cooperative Society Limited and Nongada Ayangleima Cooperative Society Limited also attended the press meet.