National Cooperative Federation of Nepal has organized two days provincial workshop on “Cooperative for the Prosperity of Province and Local Level” in Biratnagar, Morang, from 9th-10th Nov. 2019. Inaugurating the workshop, the Honorable Chief Minister of Province no 1, Sherdhan Rai appreciated the contribution of cooperative in development, and insisted on further need of continuous cooperation and coordination among all local levels, cooperatives and the private sector to achieve national goal of prosperity. Similarly, the Chairman of National Cooperative Federation of Nepal (NCF), and also the chair of the program, Keshav Prasad Badal requested all the cooperators to truly follow the cooperatives principles, theories, values and norms, then only the members will get their deserving benefits. The Chairperson also highlighted to work as a strong pillar for the prosperity of the country.
Likewise, Secretary of the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Surya Prasad Gautam said that cooperative is the best model for the poverty alleviation. As the Federal Government is jointly working with NCF for effective program implementation on the path of prosperity, he requested provincial government, all the local governments to cooperate and work together with cooperatives for productions, employment generation and poverty reduction.
The member of Provincial Assembly, Sarbhodhoj Sanba, focused on the contribution of Cooperatives sector for the socioeconomic development of the nation. He argued that cooperatives are different than NGOs, so it should not be understood as the same.
Similarly, while addressing the workshop, the Board Member of NCF, and also the member of Global ICA Board, OM devimalla emphasized that now cooperatives must work on productions and service sector. Likewise, Dharma Dutta Devkota, Convenor, Account Committee, of NCF highlighted on the need of cooperation as the cooperatives, private sectors and Government are complementary to each other. Likewise, Ravindra K.C., Board member of NCF and Member of National Farmer’s Commission urged the local level and cooperatives to work on modernization and machinization of agriculture sector.
On behalf of the organizer, Board member of NCF, Ramesh Prasad Pokhrel welcomed everyone for their participation and highlighted on the objectives of the program. Whereas, another Board member of NCF, Shiva Kumar Dangi, thanked everyone for their active participation in the program.
Similarly, the Deputy Mayor of Biratnagar metropolitan City, appreciated the contribution of cooperative for upliftment of women in Nepal.
Four papers were presented during the program. The first paper was presented by the Chairperson of NCF, Keshab Prasad Badal on “Roles of Local level and Cooperatives to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.” Whereas Mr. Himmat Singh Lekhali presented his paper on “the Role of positive thinking for the prosperity.” The third paper was presented by Janakraj Joshi, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation on “Act and Laws regarding land uses, and the role of local level” and the fourth paper was presented by the Director of Nepal Rastra Bank, Mr. Ramsaran Kharel on “Role of Province and Local Level on Entrepreneurship Development through Cooperatives.”
After all the paper presentation, there was one panel discussion on ” Coordination among Province, Local Government and Cooperative on the Journey to Prosperity”. In the panel discussion, the panelists were the Chief of Cooperative department, ministry of Agriculture, Land management and Cooperative of Province No 1, Ram Prasad Chapagain, Mayor of Pathari Sanischare Municipality, Morang, Dilip Kumar Rai, Deputy Chairperson of Harinagara Rural Municipality, Sunsari, Rimjhim Kumari Bhagat, Chief executive Officer of Chaudandigadi Municipality, Udayapur, and on behalf of Cooperative movement, Chairperson of District Tea Producers Cooperative Union Ltd., Ilam, Nanda Aangthupo. The discussion was moderated by the General Manager of NCF, Chitra Kumrai Thamsuhang Subba.
In the program, supported by the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, more than 300 participants actively participated in the workshop. The members of Provincial Assembly, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Municipalities, Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of Rural Municipalities, the Chief Administrative Officers of Province No 1, Board Members of NCF including the Chairperson, representatives of various District level Cooperative unions, and many senior cooperators were present in the program.