Shillong, Nov 14: The weeklong celebration of the 65th All India Cooperative Week 2018 on the main theme “Inclusive Growth and Good Governance through Cooperatives for Rural Prosperity” got underway at Sohra Civil Sub-Division at the Community Hall, Mawsmai on the 14th of November 2018.
The programme is being organized by the Office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Meghalaya, Shillong and the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd in collaboration with all the State Level Cooperative Federations. The topic for the day was “Cooperative Marketing, Processing and Storage”.
The programme was chaired by Smt. M. Buhphang, Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong and it was attended by members of various cooperative societies operating within the region.
Shri B. S. Majaw, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Charge Planning Branch, Shillong was the resource person for deliberations on the Main theme of the celebration.
He highlighted that in the week long celebration, the Office will lay stress on how overall development in a region can be achieved through the proper implementation of activities undertaken by Cooperative Societies thereby uplifting the economic condition of the place.
He informed the gathering that in spite of the fact Sohra being an important tourist destination in the state and the country as a whole, there were very few cooperative societies working on tourism related activities in the region.
He stressed that the people of the region, in particular the educated unemployed youth, should make the effort to come together, register themselves as Cooperative Societies and take up tourism related activities in the region and to utilize the advantages of being in such a Society.
He said that it is a difficult task for one person alone to carry out any activity but in working together as a Cooperative Society, the rate of success is more than likely to be higher. Cooperative Societies yield better results and improves the financial condition and livelihood of the people which facilitates towards the progress and development of the society.
Another advantage of a Cooperative society is that Loans are easier to avail from Banks. Further, the department is very keen in offering assistance to people who want to register and also helps out these societies from time to time through different trainings, workshops, motivational programmes etc.
In his address, Shri P. Mawkhiew, President, Meghalaya State Cooperative Union Ltd., Shillong, expressed his gratitude to the organisers for conducting such a programme. He informed that in East Khasi Hills District including Sohra there are 300 registered Cooperative Societies formed by people residing in different villages.
However, he lamented that, in some of these societies, the growth was either very slow or remained stagnant. He urged the people present in particular the members from different Societies to work together so as to achieve the objective of the theme and bring about sustainable development and employment to the region.
Later, Shri T. Kharshiing, Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Meghalaya, Shillong handed over the Veteran Co-operator Award for the year 2017-18 to Shri Tharon Khongstid, Adviser to the Pynursla Sub Area Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd. and the 4th State Level Cooperative Excellence Award for the year 2017-18 was given to Departmental Cooperative Consumer Store, R. R. Colony, Shillong.
The programme also saw deliberations on the topic of the day where Shri M. C. Suchiang, Sub Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Sohra spoke on Processing and Cooperative Marketing & Storage. A session on Cooperative Movement in the District was taken by Smt. F. F. Syiem, Sub Registrar of Cooperative Societies,East Khasi Hills District.
Earlier, a message from Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President of the National Cooperative Union of India was read out by Smt. P. Nongrum, Junior Cooperative Officer, Shillong. Shri J. Syiemiong, Branch Manager, Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd., Sohra Branch delivered the vote of thanks.
