Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 21 (EMN): The department of Co-operation on Thursday launched two co-operative marketing buses assisted under Integrated Co-operative Development Project (ICDP) at the office complex of Registrar of Co-operative Societies (RCS) at AG Colony in Kohima.
Speaking at a brief programme, the RCS of Nagaland, Tiyongmeren Jamir, appreciated the staff for procuring the vehicle and making it available for the beneficiaries despite challenges they encountered to deliver customised vehicles.
While acknowledging the support of the minister for Co-operation, G Kaito Aye, the official exuded confidence that the vehicle would be beneficial for the department, beneficiaries, and the public in general. He exhorted the beneficiaries to make the best use of the vehicles that were delivered in the form of loan and be responsible in recovering the fund.
Jamir further urged the staff of the department to cohesively work for the welfare of the people.
Meanwhile, the assistant registrar of cooperative societies (ACS), Imsunungsang, in his keynote address, informed that co-operative marketing buses were procured under ICDP, a scheme under National Co-operative Development Corporation.
The official stated that National Corporative Development Corporation (NCDC) accorded the sanction in the month of January 2018 for implementation of ICDP in five districts of Nagaland namely Kohima, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire and Peren with an outlay of INR 5209. 98 lakh for a project- period of four years.
He added that the department started an initiative of registering “One village one society” by enrolling one member from each household in the village for the uplift their economic condition. He said the department came up with an idea for a co-operative marketing bus (CMB) with focus on carrying 60% for passengers and 40% for goods as the department had observed that the villagers/ marginalised farmers could not dispose off their produces profitably and also fond difficulty to fetch essential commodities from the market due to lack of transportation.
He added that launching of CMB on Thursday was the second phase and the vehicle was built on a TATA LP/410 chassis at Kamrup Construction in Guwahati with an estimated cost of about INR 23 lakh.
Speeches were delivered by representatives of the two beneficiary societies. Puchio, a representative of Pang village Integrated MPCS Ltd. in Tuensang, stated that receiving the vehicle was 'a dream come true' for his village.
He said Pang village under Thenokhyu sub-division, which was under Tuensang district prior to the inauguration of Noklak district. He stated that the residents faced hardships for transportation of their produces adding that it takes two days to reach Kohima with a day journey to reach Tuensang town alone by paying INR 1000 from Pang.
He expressed gratitude to the department for providing the vehicle saying it would greatly ease the problem in transportation of their produces and also uplift the economic conditions.
Similarly, Vongthah, a representative of Tamlu village Integrated MPCS Ltd. in Longleng expressed gratitude to the department for providing the vehicle.
After the brief programme, Tiyongmeren Jamir handed over the keys and documents of the vehicles to the representatives of the two cooperative societies.