Kaito Aye asks targeted Co-ops to come out with success stories

Our Correspondent

Kohima, July 20 (EMN): With the existence of hundreds of registered cooperative societies in the state that are non-functioning and defunct, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation, G Kaito Aye has called upon the targeted co-operative societies to be aware of the objectives of the project and come up with exemplary achievements and success stories.

He was speaking at the launching programme of 2nd phase of the Integrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP) for five districts viz. Kohima, Tuesang, Kiphire, Longleng and Peren held at Hotel Japfü, Kohima on July 20.

Asserting that co-operative societies in the state can be transformed into self-reliant societies which has the potential to be the backbone of the state’s economy, Aye maintained that together with the implementing agency, the Co-operation department can be transformed into a people’s friendly department.

At the same time, Aye reminded the societies to be fully aware of the vision and objectives of any project and implement the project with confidence and show progress. He stated that the state has enormous resources in different areas to create success stories and set an example even in the national level, if one can genuinely work with sincerity, dedication and perseverance.

Describing ICDP as one of the most important schemes of the National Co-operative Development Co-operation (NCDC), Aye said the main objective is to promote various economic activities through co-operatives in the sphere of agriculture, agro-based industries, cottage and household industries, agri. and allied sectors like fishery, dairy, handloom, horticulture and rural industries in the selected districts.

However, he lamented that the outcome of the project implemented by the department in the eight districts in the recent past has been very discouraging. Towards this end, Aye called urged upon the officers and the staff engaged for implementation of this programme to discharge their responsibilities with all sincerity and maintain transparency keeping in mind the mechanism for monitoring of the project set by the department.

Officially launching the programme, he also handed over the keys of the project vehicles to the Chief Project Officers of the selected five districts.

Giving a brief highlight of the project, ARCS, Imsunungsang said ICDP is a scheme under which an area development approach is adopted for development of cooperatives and the funds involved 70% loan and the remaining as share capital or subsidy.

Terming this ICDP for the selected 5 districts as ‘quite unique and a special one’, Imsunungsang said this ICDP was initiated basing on a set of modalities laid down by the state government with the Project Implementing Team (PIT) personnel constituted only from the cooperation department unlike previous ICDPs, where deputation and open interview was considered.

Every step of DPR preparation, he said was guided and finalised by the department and that for the first time, aadhar is to be used for identification of society officials and members wherein loan guarantee are to be obtained from VDB or village council.

He also mentioned that all payments are to be made through bank accounts only and that the whole implementation process is structured with major focus on ‘Recovery of the loans’. This programme will run for 4 years covering all major agri. and allied activities supported by storage, transportation and marketing facilities.

Highlighting the physical targets of the project, Imsunungsang informed that in the agriculture and Horticulture sector, the department has proposed to develop about 1200 hectares spread over the five districts.

He said that the produce from these districts will be collected, semi-processed and marketed through a network of collection Centres, godowns, cold storages, processing units and marketing sheds where the project has a provision of altogether 44 units.

Transportation of the produce within and export out of the district, the ARCS Imlinungsang informed,  will be done by deploying pick-up vans, heavy transport vehicles and refer vans where the project has earmarked 48 vehicles for the said purposes.

In the allied sector, it has provisions for 21 dairy units, 251 piggery units, 28 poultry units, 41 units for mithun rearing, 80 hectares for fishery and 132 units for beekeeping, while in the industrial sector, it has earmarked 94 units for weaving, 39 units for handicrafts and 2 units for brick manufacturing

He also informed that under the credit sector, it has proposed to enhance the working capital of 114 cooperative societies and install 100 nos. of micro ATMs across all the 5 districts.

Imsunungsang was optimistic that with the dedication of the Project implementing Team, under the watchful monitoring of the RCS and with the active supervision of the State Government, the project will be a successful one and bring about the “Change” in the lives of the people of the five districts.

Others who spoke during the programme include Dr. Aotoshi, vice-chairman MARCOFED Ltd, Lipoktoba Aier, managing director, NStCB Ltd and K. Libathung Lotha, secretary cooperation.