Nepal, Saturday6thJuly 2019
National Cooperative Federation of Nepal together with Government of Nepal, Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation and United Nation Development Program (UNDP) celebrated 97th International Day of Cooperatives, 25th United Nations International Day of Cooperatives, and 26th National Cooperative Federation Dayon dated July 06, 2019 in a special gathering in Kathmandu.
The program was celebrated on the theme of 2019 unveiled by International Cooperative Alliance “COOPS 4 DECENT WORK”. A large number of high level cooperators, government officials and representatives from UN agencies and stakeholders participate the program. This year cooperators around the world are shouting out the message that cooperatives are people-centered enterprises, characterized by democratic control, that prioritize human development and social justice within the workplace.
The program initiated with the video on decent work published by International Labour Organization (ILO). A video commitment of Minister, key cooperators and stakeholders on promoting decent work from their space is also disclosed. A comprehensive paper presentation was made on topic “COOPS 4 DECENT WORK” by Joint Secretary, ChandrakalaPoudel, aligning with a visual presentation of the successful cooperatives and union on how are they promoting decent work in their workplace and among members. At the same moment best cooperatives and unions from all seven provinces were awarded from ‘Excellent Cooperative Award’ and ‘Excellent Cooperative Business Awards’ for their best performance, effectiveness, and contribution for decent work throughout the year. NCFalso distributed office equipment to selected 10 district cooperative unionsfor their capacity enhancement under strengthening cooperative program.
The celebration program was formally inaugurated by the Chief guest of the program, Hon’ble Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation (MoLCPA,Ms. Padma KumariAryal by lightning the lamp. On her short remarks, she said, “Cooperatives could only be stronger by maintaining good governance, production increase, and usage of technology in agriculture. The possible way out is the merger of cooperatives, she said. By using modern tools and technologies, we can increase the qualitative production, but for that we need to learn to respect every work and every worker. Similarly, it’s time to focus on entrepreneurship development, targeting youths and promoting decent work.”
As a chair of the program National Cooperative Federation of Nepal (NCF) Chairman Keshav Prasad Badal expressed his gratitude to all for their support to move the cooperative movement on this height. Addressing the major concern raised during the program, Mr. Badal said that cooperatives are not only for the service, it’s a social business, and it has right to be engaged on production for the sustainability of the cooperative, and the livelihood improvement of its members. Being people-centered enterprises, NCF strongly believes that cooperatives can play significant role in the creation of decent jobs and the social and economic empowerment of local communities as cooperatives are values-driven enterprises owned, controlled and run by and for their members. He addressed the problem of climate change and requestto build more water reservoirs for rain water collection where possible. At the program, he expressed his commitment to work for the decent workmore effectively in coming days.
Likewise, Ms. AyshanieMedagangoda-Labe, Resident Representative, UNDP Nepal also addressed the program. She said that its really exemplary to the world that Constitution of Nepal has regarded cooperative as one of the strong pillar of the economic development. She also acknowledged that UNDP has been working with more than 500 cooperatives in various local levels in close coordination with various ministries, and is always ready to work in the future, she said.
Similarly, Mr. GopiNathMainali, Secretary, MoLCPA said that cooperative can play very significant role to create decent society. Not only the work but our perspective, dynamism, philosophy, thought and everything should be decent, he added. It can be a ‘game changer’ in Nepal’s context, if it really works following its principles and values.
As the theme for this year was ‘Coop 4 Decent work’, the joint secretary of MoLMCPAMs Chandra Kala Paudel presented her paper on “Cooperatives for Decent Work.” Ms.Paudel emphasized on how cooperative can play vital role for decent work. It’s believed that the program has been effective to aware local, national, international policymakers, civil-society organization’s and the public in general how cooperatives can contribute to a decent working environment.
Dr. Tok Raj Panday, Registrar, Department of Cooperatives, Ms. Om Devi Malla, ICA Global Board Member, Mr. Deepak Baskota, the former Chairperson of NCF, Mr. Min Raj Kadel,Vice Chairperson of NCF, Mr Ganesh Saha, advisor of NCF, Dr. Dil Bahadur Gurung, Member of National Planning Commission, also addressed the program.
More than 200 cooperators and stakeholders from various provinces attended the program. The program is believed to promote the voice of decent working environment in cooperative sector. The representatives from Government, Cooperative Central Unions, District Cooperative Unions, Cooperatives, UNDP, CMDP, ILO Nepal, INGOs and stakeholders entertained the program.
The rewarded cooperatives and the cooperative unions during the program are as follows: