Imphal, November 30: As part of centenary celebration of cooperative movement in India (1904-2004), a district level seminar on Cooperative Professionalisation was held today at Khamaral, Imphal West.

The seminar was organised by NCUI-Cooperative Education Field Project, Bishnupur and sponsored by NCU, New Delhi.

Former MI and CADA Minister and MLA W Brajabidhu, president Mani-pur State Cooperative Union, chairman management committee ICM Khaidem Borkeshor and SC Borah, principal graced the function as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

In his speech W Brajabidhu made a clarion call for reviving cooperative societies by infusing cooperative professionalism to the chief functionaries of the societies.

He stressed on transparency, accountability of the members in running a society and training should be imparted to the members on the role and responsibility of the members.

The former minister also urged the Cooperative Inspectors of Cooperative department to identify potential societies so that loan can be extended to the societies for overall development.

Kh Borkeshor in his presidential speech said that such seminar dealing with professionalism of cooperatives should be organised a long time ago as it the need of the hour for reviving defunct societies in the State.

Borkeshor said that during a meeting of national cooperative leaders and State leaders held on November 22 at New Delhi on the need for amending the Cooperative Act, he had a memorandum was submitted to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

For self employment generation of youths in the State the memorandum stressed the need for opening three NCUI projects in three districts of the State.

One women cooperative Education project in Imphal West and one general field project each in Thoubal and Churachandpur (ST).

He said that the Union Minister has called a meeting of State Cooperatives Minister in the month of December to hear their views on the proposed amendment to the constitution of the act.

Coming to the State, he said that so far 1600 Self Help Groups have been formed in the four districts with a target of 500 each in four districts of Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal East and West by 2005 March.

Due to the excellent loan recovery rate of SHGs, the United Bank of India has agreed to extend credit linkage to the SHGs in the State.

Manipur Rural Bank and SBI have already extended credit linkage to SHGs, he said.

SC Borah said that a beginning has been made through this seminar on the need for professionalisation of office bearers of cooperative societies.

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