Secretary (Coop) Stresses on the Needs of Designing Strategies to Strengthen Cooperatives in Andaman & Nicobar

Port Blair, Nov 21: Along with the rest of the country, the 69th All India Cooperative Week Celebration-2022 was being celebrated and concluded on 21st Nov, 2022 at the Conference of A&N State Cooperative Bank Ltd. Shri. Raajesh Goyal, Secretary (Coop)-Cum- RCS graced the occasion as the Chief Guest in the presence office bearers of various Apex and Primary Level Cooperatives, Govt. Officials, and huge gathering of cooperators.

Shri. Raajesh Goyal addressing on the topic “Financial Inclusion, Digitalization of PACS”, appreciated the A&N State Cooperative Union, Cooperative Societies and Staff Members of Cooperative Department for successful conduct of Cooperative Week across in A&N Islands. He highlighted the theme “India @75 growth of Cooperatives and Future ahead” and informed that the Cooperatives has done tremendous growth in A& N Islands since its start way back in 1946. The first Cooperative Society registered is 1946 in the name & style of Rangachang Land Syndicate Cooperative Society.

We have almost 2200 societies are registered in 30 various sectors touching construction, shipping repairs, Consumer, Bank, credit etc. He further informed that comparing to mainland, we have to do more businesses. He cited the examples of successful cooperatives like AMUL the Milk cooperative which is doing the best business all over India as well as abroad. Apart from AMUL, a construction cooperative of Kerala has a 26,000 Crore and cooperatives of Andhra Pradesh are also doing well.

Goyal handed over the accreditation of Rajiv Gandhi Cooperative Training Centre received from C-PEC, BIRD Lucknow as centre for “Professional & Excellence of Cooperatives” to Shri. P. G. Paul, General Secretary, A&N State Coop. Union, Teylerabad.

During the weeklong celebration the A&N State Cooperative Union Ltd. organized various competition like Essay writing and Quiz competition among the College, School students and Employees of Cooperative organization in order to inculcate the spirit of cooperatives. Shri. Raajesh Goyal, Secretary(Coop)- Cum-RCS, Chief Guest handed over the Certificates and Mementos to the winners of various competition. He also felicitated the Best Working Cooperatives in various sectors and also handed over the certificate to the candidates who successfully completed Beauty Parlour, Tailoring, Fashion Designing and Computer courses.

English Essay Writing Competition

Mr. Dipaniwta Halder - Andaman Law College - 1st Position

Mr. G.Ajith – TGCE - 2nd Position

Ms. Divya Kumari - TGCE - 3rd Position

Hindi Essay writing Competition

Ms. Archana Singh – TGCE - 1st Position

Ms. Nazreen Khatun - Andaman Law College - 2nd Position

Ms. Pooja Halder - Andaman Law College - 3rd Position

Quiz Competition

Mr. Sudeep Kumar Laskar & Sukanta Malakar - A&NStCB - 1st Position

Mr. Srinivas & Wajid Ali Shah – ANCOFED - 2nd Position

Mr. S. Netaji - Ekdat Housing Coop. Society Ltd - 3rd Position

Sabnam Bibi & T. Thaniya CCWS - 3rd Position

Best Working Cooperative Societies

Wisdom Const. Coop. Society Ltd, Ferrargunj - Construction Cooperative

ANIIDCO Employees Multipurpose Coop. Society Ltd - Multipurpose Cooperative

Island Progressive Women Coop. Society Ltd, Shadipur - Industrial Cooperative

Kisan Service Coop. Society, Tushnabad - PACS (Agri. Credit)

Women Welfare T&C Coop. Society Ltd, Prothrapur - Thrift & Credit Cooperative

Bangashree Coop. Coconut Farming Society Ltd, Prothrapur - Plantation Cooperative

Mahila Pragati Sheel Housing Coop. Society, Prothrapur - Housing Cooperative

Durga unemployed Coop. Society Ltd, Sippighat - Labour Contract Cooperative

Jagrook Coop. Society Ltd, Austinabad - Others

Mahasagar Fisheries Coop. Society Ltd, Dairy Farm, Port Blair - Fisheries Cooperative

Shanmuga Women’s Coop. Society Ltd, Port Blair - Canteen Cooperative

On the occasion, Shri. Suresh Babu, Principal, Rajiv Gandhi Cooperative Training College (RGCTC) also spoke on the topic “Financial Inclusion, Digitalization of PACS and Strengthening of Cooperative Database”. He informed that, Financial Inclusion meant for including all sections of the community in financial services of banks. He briefed as to how PACS can play pivotal role in financial inclusion. Financial inclusion helps the rural poor to access banking facility to meet the economic needs of its members as well as to help them save money. The Govt. has taken many initiatives like DBT, opening of no frill account, branch expansion of bank and appointing business correspondence, introduction of KCC, ATM card and GCC etc. 

He further informed that PACS is going to Digitalization in all over India and in A&N Islands 46 PACS are going to be Digitalized soon. This will benefit the rural populace and the Govt. of India has prepared Model Bye law for the PACS for doing as a multiservice centre. He further informed that the A&N State Cooperative Union has brought the momentum in Cooperative development & training in A&N Islands through Rajiv Gandhi Cooperative Training Centre, Teylerabad.

Earlier, Smti. Jolly James, General Manager (Dev), A&N State Cooperative Bank Ltd welcomed the Chief Guest and other delegates to the 69th All India Cooperative Week Celebration 2022.  She informed about the main theme “India@75: Growth of Cooperatives and Future ahead” and expressed her views on today’s topic “Financial Inclusion, Digitalization of PACS and Strengthening of Cooperative Database”.

The programme concluded with the vote of thank proposed by Smti. Elizabeth Marry, AGM (WDC), A&NStCB.