NARRATIVE REPORT

17^th INDIAN COOPERATIVE CONGRESS (2023)

National Cooperative Union of India

The Philippine Cooperative Center participated in the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress, organized by the National Cooperative Union of India and held at the International Exhibition Cum Convention Centre (IECC), Indian Trade Promotional Organization (ITPO) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from July 01-02, 2023. Following the congress, a Study Visit to Agra, Uttar Pradesh (including a visit to the Taj Mahal), took place. PCC Research Staff, Ray Santiago represented Philippine Cooperative Center – as part of representation and data gathering for the National Union of Cooperatives Technical Working Group. He is together with NATCCO Director Joel S. Joson (CEO, NEC Multipurpose Cooperative). The theme of the congress was “Amrit Kaal – Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India.

On day 1, the Chief Guest who inaugurated the 17th ICC was Shri Narendra Modi, the Honorable Prime Minister of India. Prime Minister Modi’s inaugural speech (in Hindi, with earpiece-assisted translation) revolved around the importance and impact of cooperative societies in India. He mentioned that in the ‘spirit of cooperatives, everybody is important.’ He emphasized the idea of self- sufficiency and how it assisted the agricultural sector in India, highlighting how cooperative societies worked with small farmers. He proudly announced that cooperatives had a significant impact on the economy of India, especially in Dairy and sugar, where India became the largest global producer due to cooperative participation. He also mentioned that 60 percent of Dairy cooperators in India were ‘sisters and mothers.’

One of the major successes and objectives of Indian cooperatives is the creation of a separate Ministry of Cooperation (their version of CDA, but departmental in scope, also with a dedicated and separate budget). Part of their objective is to provide the same facilities available to the corporate sector to cooperative societies. The Ministry managed to reduce the price of products in the market and is now working to resolve other issues of cooperatives in India.

Modi also emphasized the need to push for modernization in agriculture, led by cooperative societies. He mentioned that the equitable costs of fertilizers (where cooperatives in India are the lead producers) helped in the improvement of small farmers. He also thanked the Cooperative Unions in India for leading to increased awareness of cooperatives and the ever-increasing participation of cooperatives in social reforms. Prime Minister Modi also presided over the launch of Indian Cooperatives E-Portals for E-Commerce website for Cooperative Marketing and Cooperative Extension and Advisory Services Portal.

Also in attendance at the events were Union Minister for Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, Union Minister of State for Cooperation, Shri B L Verma, Chairman of the International Cooperative Alliance for Asia Pacific, Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, and President of the National Cooperative Union of India, Shri Dilip Sanghani.

There were multiple technical sessions after the inauguration. While all of them were conducted in Hindi without translation support, the on-screen presentations were in English. Notable discussions revolved around (1) Ease of Managing Cooperatives, (2) Regulatory Frameworks, and (3) Conducive Legislation. Day 2 also consisted of a collection of technical discussions.

The National Cooperative Union of India

The NCUI is the Apex Cooperative Organization of India representing the cooperative movement in the country. NCUI is the “torchbearer” of the cooperative movement in India, pushing for all advocacy related issues for the benefit of the sector. They also represent cooperatives in India internationally. It creates activities and programs that “addresses emerging issues” of the sector and movement.

In India, the cooperative sector greatly contributes to the GDP (35% in fertilizers, 15% in milk and dairy, 13% in wheat, etc.) Compared to other countries of the same context, the cooperative societies in India are vibrant and powerful in both economic and socio-political aspects. Cooperatives are very big and politically powerful in India. They form big part of their GDP – and even exports widely internationally. In fact, they are a major political powerhouse. Politicians often take root in Grassroots cooperatives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi support came from the cooperative sector. Most of his vote base is were also from the cooperative (primarily agricultural) sector.

Structurally, there members are all federation level cooperatives in the country. All federation cooperatives in India, if they would want to participate in a nationwide level of advocacy and promotion, are to join NCUI. Funding is derived from CETF contribution of its members. The current president of NCUI is Dileep Sanghani who is also the Vice-President of IFFCO, one of the biggest cooperatives in India that are into agriculture, production, and fertilizers.