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Parallel law on cooperatives enacted

Dehra Dun Nov 11. Uttaranchal has enacted the Parallel Act for Self Reliant Cooperatives, providing the legal framework for an autonomous self-reliant cooperative sector, State Cooperatives Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani said here today.

Addressing a symposium on ``National and International Experiences of Self-Reliant Cooperatives: Lessons for Uttaranchal'' which opened this morning, the Minister said, ``Uttaranchal is one of the nine states to pass the parallel law on cooperatives -- the Uttaranchal Self Reliant Cooperative Act 2003.''

The Minister said, ``Self-reliant cooperatives are essential to promote sustainable livelihoods among rural communities, especially in the hilly regions where access to basic economic opportunities are limited.''

Besides Uttaranchal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have enacted the parallel legislation.

Calling for enhancing women's participation in cooperatives, he said women cooperatives must be set up to strengthen the hill economy. ``It is now time for stock taking and we must think of our weaknesses before setting up an efficient cooperative structure in the state.''

The cooperatives do not have a strong marketing and distribution system which caused problems to producer, Mr Nathani said at the two-day symposium organised by the Community Based Economic Development Project in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency, the Uttaranchal government, the Ford Foundation, Diversified Agriculture Support Project-Uttaranchal and International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

The symposium, being attended by delegates from Canada, Nepal, Sri Lanka besides India will share experiences and observe best practices in self-reliant cooperatives in the interests of Uttaranchal. Representatives from NGOs, cooperatives and farmers' federations are participating in the two-day symposium.

The symposium will highlight best practices in cooperatives related to micro-finance, marketing, agriculture, policy and insurance and assess their applicabilility in Uttaranchal.

CBED is a project currently being implemented by the Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) in partnership with two NGOs in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts of Uttaranchal. -- UNI

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