Non-performing cooperative societies in Nagaland should be streamlined, says PHED minister

KOHIMA — Minister of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and Cooperation, Jacob Zhimomi, on Wednesday stressed on the need for a thorough review and streamlining of non-performing cooperative societies in the state.

Addressing an introductory meeting with the Cooperation department at the Registrar of Cooperative Societies office in Kohima, Zhimomi said a committee would be formed to scrutinise the non-performing cooperative societies, especially in the last three years.

He said that the government just cannot delete the non-performing cooperative societies as there will be lots of repercussions, and that about 35-40% cooperative societies are currently active out of over 8000 in Nagaland.

He also pointed out the need to explore the ‘One Village, One Cooperative Society’ module given by the Central ministry.

The minister called upon the Cooperation department to work for the cause of the people, pointing out that the department has entered the social fabric with huge scope to work for the uplift of the people.

He also told the officers and staff to work collectively to yield the best results.

Highlighting the need to explore new arenas such as piggery, he said Nagas are meat lovers and there is huge fiscal responsibility for meat procurement as huge amount of revenue is siphoned off to other states. He, therefore, mooted a meeting with the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department. 

Further, he expressed the need to have the department’s own building in the newly created districts besides pointing out the need to prioritise giving vehicles to officers posted in the interior districts so that they can perform their duties.

Presenting an overview of the department, Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies Bokato Hesso informed that there are 8877 registered cooperative societies and seven state-level cooperative societies as on January 31, 2023.

He said the construction of a new directorate building at Pheregei Kohima, which was taken up in 2012, is on the verge of completion. He also apprised on the implementation of programmes such as Integrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP) and Computerisation of Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperatives (PACS).

Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Nagaland, Sehjang Doungel and Registrar of Co-operative Societies Nagaland, Temjen Longkumer also spoke at the event.

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