More than 8000 co-operative societies not enough to cover Nagaland, say officials

KOHIMA — There are more than 8000 co-operative societies in Nagaland but it doesn’t cover even one-third of the state population and not all are vibrant, said Deputy Registrar Co-operative Societies, Kohima, Rokovisa Chase, on Monday.

Speaking during the culmination of the weeklong 70th All India Co-operative Week from November 14 to the 20th at the Red Cross Building in Kohima, the official said the existing societies roughly cover 30 per cent, considering the population of the state.

This came after the department officials revealed earlier this year that Nagaland had 8877 registered cooperative societies and seven state-level cooperative societies as of January 31, 2023, but only about 35-40% of them were active.

The country observes co-operative week from November 14 to the 20th every year with an objective to highlight the achievements and failures of the cooperative sector in various areas as well as chalk out strategies for growth.

Realising the impact of the cooperative sector, the Central government is focusing on it but Nagaland is yet to feel the impact of the cooperative movement as the units were too small, opined Chase.

He clarified that the Co-operative department does not implement schemes; it only registers. ‘Once registered, the societies can approach the department and avail schemes and facilities. It is for the societies to identify what they want to do and the department can facilitate it,’ he added.

Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, Kumar Ramnikanth, who was the guest of honour for the occasion, an economy doesn’t grow on industries alone but through the contribution of each and every citizen.

Lamenting that cooperative societies have failed to achieve the full potential in the state despite having more than 8000 in number, he urged all to work hard, and together.

In Nagaland, when one society starts something, others start copying it, said the DC, laying emphasis on the importance of having a vision. People don’t know how far they can achieve and don’t know their full potential; if one keeps their vision big, there is no limit, he added.

He also pointed out the ill effects of using chemicals in the name of development, which in turn degrades the fertility of soil. ‘We have to think of sustainability and think of what we can leave for the upcoming generations,’ he said.

The deputy commissioner urged the Nagas to tap the organic market and be leaders in the country as the sector is yet to be saturated. ‘We need to sell our things to the outside world,’ he added.

Pointing out that societies working in silos will result in lesser output, he told the gathering to cooperate and share ideas with one another for better output. Nagaland is a small state but people are very divided, he lamented.

He further challenged the gathering to go out of their comfort zone, strive towards a set goal and take the state to a greater height.

During the technical session, Keren Swu, Executive Assistant (M&E), Food Processing section, Department of Industries and Commerce, provided details on schemes and programmes under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries; Luidi Zeliang, Sector Manager of NSCB, delved into programmes and schemes for co-operative societies under banking sector; and Richard Belho, Zynorique Initiative, Agri Production and Marketing Co-operative Society, Kohima, spoke on constraints, problems and potentials of marketing in the context of Nagaland and the way forward. 

Products from the cooperative societies were also on sale during the event organised by the office of the Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Kohima.

The programme was chaired by SRCS, Kohima, Ameno Nisa, while Menguno Koso, president of Japfuphiki Women Livelihood and Credit Coop Society Ltd., pronounced a prayer and SRCS Tseminyu, Tesenmo Thong delivered the vote of thanks.

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