Shri Radha Mohan Singh assured the cooperative representatives that the Government is committed to cooperative development. "The cooperative sector should not have any doubt about this", he said. He further said that keeping due importance of cooperatives the government will bring Multi-State Cooperative Societies Amendment Bill 2014 so that cooperatives function as autonomous and professional bodies. He assured the cooperative leaders that they would be consulted on this issue as their vast experience would be useful in this regard.
Shri Radha Mohan Singh also emphasized on the need for changes in the election process of cooperatives so fair elections are ensured, and reservation is made for SC/ST and women in the Board of Cooperatives. Emphasizing on the role of HRD in cooperatives, he said that cooperative education and training in very important for the success of cooperatives. In this regard, he appreciated the work of National Council of Cooperative Training and various cooperative education field projects. He said that the Government has sanctioned budget of Rs. 118.08 crores for cooperative education and training in the 12th Year Plan. Shri Singh also emphasized on the need to make cooperative education practical, based on field realities, and not theoretical, for which the facilities in the cooperative sector are inadequate. He urged on the need to imbibe modern technologies in the cooperative sector to face challenges of MNCs.
