Shillong, Nov 15: The Cooperation Department held the opening ceremony of the 72nd All India Cooperative Week in collaboration with the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank and the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project under the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency today.
The celebration is being observed under the theme, ‘Cooperatives as vehicles for Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
Speaking at the event, Cooperation Minister Methodious Dkhar said that Cooperative Week reflects the government’s commitment to acknowledging the contribution of cooperative societies in the state and across the country.
He said, “In our state, the primary agricultural credit societies (PACS), comprising more than 500 societies including the newly registered Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS), form the backbone of the cooperative sector. It is inspiring to see the achievements of different societies. I believe that we have moved further and achieved much. We still believe there lies immense potential for revitalization through strategic interventions and digital transformation.”
Richard Yanthan, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, highlighted the deep cultural roots of the cooperative movement in Meghalaya. He said, “Today, we see cooperatives in almost every walk of life – be it thrift and credit, the agro sector or even tourism. Cooperatives today strengthen the state, and they are a modern expression of ancient wisdom that lives within our communities.”
He added that Meghalaya’s rich natural resources and strong community values position the State to become a model where cooperatives lead advancements in eco-friendly farming, renewable energy and sustainable tourism.
As of October 30, the number of registered cooperative societies in Meghalaya has risen to 3,307 with a total membership of 2,87,396, including 12 state-level cooperative societies.
Awards for Best Performing Primary Cooperative Societies at the district level were presented to Moore Wellson Youth Training Centre & Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd., the Lumrapleng Service Cooperative Society Ltd., and the Iatreilang Foundation Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Ltd. The State-level awards were presented to Pillingkata ‘B’ IVCS Ltd., Mawklot Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society Ltd., and Dondime Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Ltd.
