HASSAN: Cooperative movement in Karnataka has completed 101 years and to commemorate this, a weeklong programme has been launched all over the State.

Minister for Public Works and Energy H.D. Revanna will inaugurate the programme at Kala Bhavan in Hassan on Saturday. As part of the 53rd Akhila Bharatha Sahakara Saptaha, the "Cooperatives for Women and Youth Empowerment and Social Justice Day" will be observed on Saturday.

Besides Mr. Revanna, Women and Child Welfare Minister H.K. Kumaraswamy, Karnataka State Cooperative Federation president G.T. Deve Gowda and Hassan MLA H.S. Prakash are the chief guests. Senior cooperative members will be honoured on Saturday.

Addressing presspersons in Hassan on Friday, president of Karnataka State Women's Cooperative Federation Ltd, Bangalore, Sarala B. Kanchan said cooperative sector was responsible for the second green revolution and for socio-economic development. It had generated direct employment for 1.07 million people, besides generating self-employment for 14.39 million people in the State.

Empowerment

Ms. Kanchan said that to motivate women to join cooperative movement, 6,474 youth and women were provided training. Efforts were made to empower them economically.

Ms. Kanchan said in Karnataka, there were 32,382 cooperative societies. Of these, 27,413 cooperatives were working. There are 2.05 crore members with Rs. 26,475 crore as working capital and last year, cooperatives earned a profit of Rs. 510 crore.

Ms. Kanchan thanked the Government for announcing cooperative loans to farmers at four per cent interest. During 2005-06, 12.26 lakh farmers had taken loans to the tune of Rs. 2,827.93 crore. The Government provides an interest concession of 7.5 per cent to cooperatives.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail