Manipur’s Cooperative Registrar W. Ibohal calls for greater youth and women participation, while outlining revival, pisciculture and digitalisation initiatives.
Imphal, Sept. 22: The cooperative movement in Manipur needs greater participation from young people and women to remain relevant and create new livelihood opportunities, Registrar of Cooperative Societies W. Ibohal said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the 15th session of the “Meet the Press” programme at the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) auditorium, Ibohal said cooperatives should no longer be viewed only as a traditional system of rural credit.
He said the sector offers opportunities in employment, entrepreneurship, access to finance and collective business activities. With changes in technology and markets, cooperative institutions can provide platforms for young people to start businesses, work collectively, access government schemes and develop new sources of livelihood.
Giving an overview of the cooperative sector in Manipur, Ibohal said the movement began in 1939 following the adoption of the Indian Co-operative Societies Act, 1912. Sanjenbam Nodiachand Singh was the first Registrar of Cooperative Societies in the state.
Manipur currently has 11,659 registered cooperative societies with around 820,835 members, he said. Of the total registered societies, 5,337 are functioning while 6,322 are non-functioning.
Ibohal said the Department of Cooperative Societies is focusing on the revival and strengthening of cooperative institutions so they can serve their members and local communities more effectively.
He said cooperatives can help members pool resources, access institutional finance and reach markets collectively, particularly where individuals may face difficulties in arranging finance, infrastructure and market access on their own.
Financial assistance and revival efforts
The Registrar also highlighted financial assistance being provided to cooperative societies.
The Department has extended Rs 20 lakh in assistance, including Rs 18 lakh to 36 Primary Multipurpose Rural Cooperative Societies. The assistance includes Rs 50,000 each for 18 Valley societies and 18 Hill societies.
Another Rs 2 lakh has been provided to the Manipur State Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Society Ltd., the state’s apex handloom cooperative.
However, Ibohal said financial assistance alone cannot ensure the success of cooperative institutions. Active participation by members, proper management and the introduction of new ideas are equally important.
He particularly stressed the need to bring more young people and women into the cooperative movement.
Rs 36.35 crore sanctioned for pisciculture projects
Pisciculture was another major area discussed during the briefing.
Under the Central Sector Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Cooperation (CSISAC), the National Cooperative Development Corporation has sanctioned Rs 36.3565 crore for pisciculture projects in Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching and Bishnupur districts.
The assistance comprises a Rs 26.789-crore loan and Rs 9.5675 crore subsidy.
According to Ibohal, the projects include construction and renovation of ponds, hatchery units, ice plants, cold storage facilities and refrigerated vehicles.
A total of 167 cooperative societies have benefited from the pisciculture projects. These include nine societies in Imphal East, 46 in Imphal West, 29 in Kakching and 83 in Bishnupur.
Ibohal said the projects could create livelihood opportunities for people interested in fisheries and related activities. Collective efforts through cooperatives can also help members overcome challenges related to finance, infrastructure and access to markets.
Cooperative services being moved online
The Department is also moving towards digitalisation of cooperative services.
Ibohal said computerisation of the offices of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies is being implemented under the Centrally Sponsored Project, “Strengthening Cooperatives Through IT Interventions”.
The digital system will cover services including registration, audit, inspection, inquiry, amendment of bye-laws, e-payment, elections, appeals, liquidation and revival of cooperative societies.
The move is intended to simplify access to services while reducing dependence on paperwork and manual processes.
The Department has already procured 89 hardware items, comprising 36 all-in-one computers, 17 multifunction machines and 36 online UPS units.
Deloitte has been engaged as the Software Development Agency, with 18 software modules finalised. The new digital system will also be linked with the National Cooperative Database for improved record-keeping and monitoring of cooperative societies.
The total cost of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies computerisation project is Rs 2,41,78,293. The Government of India is contributing Rs 2,32,60,463, while the state government’s contribution is Rs 9,17,830.
Software development is fully funded by the Centre up to Rs 1.50 crore, including GST, he said.
PACS computerisation and new initiatives
The Department is also working on the computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and their integration with the National Cooperative Database.
Ibohal said PACS should gradually move beyond their traditional role of providing credit and develop into multipurpose institutions capable of meeting wider rural needs.
Other initiatives being taken up by the Department include the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan, a web-based registration and monitoring portal, formulation of a State Cooperation Policy, pisciculture projects and measures to strengthen and revive apex cooperative societies.
Ibohal said the cooperative sector has the potential to contribute to financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship and rural livelihoods across agriculture, fisheries, dairy, handloom and other allied sectors.
302 vacancies in Cooperative Department
The Department, however, continues to face a shortage of manpower. Against 506 sanctioned posts, only 204 are currently filled, leaving 302 vacancies.
Despite the shortage, the Department continues to undertake registration, audit, inspection, inquiry, revival and restructuring of cooperative societies, Ibohal said.
The Legal Section of the Department is currently handling around 73 pending cases, he informed the media.
With more than 11,000 registered cooperative societies and over eight lakh members, Ibohal said Manipur already has a broad cooperative network.
The key challenge, he said, is to make these institutions active, sustainable and more useful to their members.
The press meet also highlighted the Department’s efforts to give the cooperative movement a more modern direction, with greater youth participation, digital technology, diversified activities and stronger member involvement identified as key areas.
Officials of the Cooperative Department attended the press meet.
