Bhubaneswar: Odisha organized celebrations of 70th All India Co-op Week, 2023 with great enthusiasm on 14 November.
The Inauguration marked with a walkathon conducted early in the morning from Master Canteen Square to Odisha State Co-operative Bank Head Office.
Minister Co-operation Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Secretary Co-operation, Aravind Agarwal, OSCB President T Prasad Rao Dora and other graced the occasion.
Later Shri Nayak, Minister Co-operation, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare and Higher Education, inaugurated the State level ceremony at Utkal Mandap and addressed the august audience.
Ananta Narayan Jena, ML.A, Bhubaneswar (Central), Pradeep Kumar Jena, Chief Secretary, Sudhashu K.K. Mishra, CGM, NABARD, Regional Office, Bhubaneswar and Umakanta Dash Director IRH Anand graced the occasion and addressed.
Function has been held at Utkal Mandap, Bhubaneswar in the evening which has been presided over by Aravind Agrawal, Secretary, Co-operation followed by colorful cultural programs.
Minister Shri Nayak and other guests visited the stalls displayed on achievements of cooperatives.
On this occasion, the Minister drew attention to the role of cooperatives in the rural economy. He highlighted how the implementation of various schemes of the government can be communicated to the people through cooperation.
Minister called for interest free agriculture loan scheme, free crop insurance registration and successful marketing of agricultural produce through co-operatives.
The keynote speaker, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena, in his speech spoke about how the active and transparent involvement of cooperatives in the agricultural economy is important. The state government is providing financial support through various schemes to make the cooperatives more effective.
Co-operation Secretary, Shri Agrawal informed that about 32 lakh farmers in the state are being provided interest-free agricultural loans through cooperatives. On this occasion, he called upon the cooperatives to be more open, active and people-oriented.
Later Chief Guest awarded certificates and rewards to the successful contestants in various competitions and to the cooperative organizations that have performed well in the field of co-operatives.
Santosh Kumar Das, Special Secretary proposed vote of thanks.
