Cooperative Week celebrated in Namchi

NAMCHI, 16 Nov: The State Co-operation Union, in coordination with multipurpose cooperative societies of South district celebrated the 58th Co-operative Week with a special function which included a seminar on development trough cooperatives here at the community hall today.
Minister for Cooperation, RB Subba, was present as the chief guest accompanied by Namchi-Singithang MLA, Binod Rai, as special guest. The programme was also attended by Secretary Cooperation, AK Chettri, Chief Executive, SICUN, Pralad Gurung, Namchi Municipal Council, T. Prasad and officers from different departments.
Addressing the function, the Minister commended the South District for being ahead of all districts in the cooperative sector with 542 MPC Societies.
Stressing that it was the Chief Minister’s initiative which had energised the cooperative movement in Sikkim, he urged MPCS groups to deliver well on their responsibilities to achieve the poverty alleviation and prosperity envisaged by the Chief Minister through a vibrant cooperative sector.
He urged cooperative society to not look only for aid and grants, but seek out livelihood opportunities collectively and facilitate the creation of a self-reliant and industrious community.
Speaking on behalf of the cooperative societies of the district, MK Rai, placed a set of demands and suggestions with the department. He complained that the best efforts of the cooperative societies were not achieving the expected results because the Department has not been able to coordinate effectively with the MPCS’s.
He pointed out that the government had appointed managers at cooperative societies, but the salaries were kept at a mere Rs. 1,500 per month which was inadequate and demoralising. He requested that the salaries of account managers be raised and demanded that MPCS centre buildings be constructed at the block level.
The programme was also addressed by the Namchi-Singithang MLA and the SICUN Chief Executive. Earlier in the day, a rally was taken out from through town espousing the virtues of cooperative societies.