Cooperative societies' members protest, lock Registrar's office
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 19 2021: Protesting non implementation of Integrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP) over the years in the State, members of many cooperative societies today stormed the office of Registrar of Cooperative Societies at Lamphelpat.

ICD Projects are sanctioned under National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) but reportedly no such project has been implemented in the past 4-5 years.

The members of cooperative societies who have been pressing for the implementation for the said projects for quite a while also locked the office of Registrar, Joint Registrar (Audit) and Deputy Registrar.

The protesting members later raised slogans against laxity on the implementation of ICDP and demanded for its immediate implementation inside the office campus.

The protesters also warned of more stir in case the State Government and Registrar of Cooperative Societies fail to pay heed to their demand.

Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, secretary of Karam Awang Leikai Handloom and Handicrafts Society Limited, Karam Memi said that many cooperative societies have either regressed or are on the verge of extinction after its association with Manipur Cooperative Society.

She further said that those executives of cooperative societies which have registered with the State Cooperative Society have been unable to discharge their duties normally as they have to keep engaging with officials regarding the implementation of ICDP.

The prolonged process and no result has also led to trust deficit among society members, she added.

Memi also pointed out that all necessary documents required in applying for the projects and other formalities have been completed long ago but there has been no breakthrough yet.

Moreover, repeated representations have been submitted to the Chief Minister and other concerned authorities but no positive response has been received till date, she continued.

Concerned authorities should be very sincere on whether ICDP is to be implemented in the State or not, she said while urging the former not to befool cooperative societies anymore.

If the State Government does not want cooperative societies to survive, there is no reason for Manipur Cooperative Societies to continue functioning in the State, she added.

Other protesters also asserted that cooperative societies in other States are nurtured and promoted to their best with ICDP under NCDC.

But sadly such important projects are discarded in the State by authorities who often advocate to promote handloom and handicrafts in many big events, the protesters continued with regret.

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