AGARTALA, November 14 (TIWN): The 61st Tripura State Cooperative week got underway from November 14 and will continue till November 20. Health and PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury on Friday inaugurated the state wide seminar at Agartala, Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhawan to mark the 61st National Cooperative week. Beside the Tripura State Cooperative Union President and cooperative society Minister Khagendra Jamatia published the annual magazine “Kharang” to mark the national cooperative week.

Addressing the inaugural programme here on Friday, Health and PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury said that once the poor people of the state as well as the tribal people remained backtrack from joining the Cooperative society and later the state govt. playing its major role here provided opportunities for the poor people of the state in regard of being the member of the state cooperative society. During the year 1978 a total of around 600 cooperative society were functional whereas the members rested at 1 lakh 21 thousand, said Minister Badal Chowdhury. He also claimed that a section of NGOs and political parties were always in want of looting the govt. opportunities.  

National Cooperative week is celebrated every year all over the state of Tripura from November 14 to 20. It has become the largest cooperative movement in the state as most cooperative societies of the state will take part in the programme that has been scheduled this year.

The cooperative as a whole plays an essential  role towards the economy of the state, rural credits, agri and allies activities, fisheries, storage, labour, consumer, fertilizers marketing etc. This year the State Cooperative Union brought out a new edition “Kharang” to commemorate the occasion.  

A total of 80 meetings will be held in Block level and Nagar Panchayat level across the state to mark the 61^st State Cooperative week. Earlier briefing the main objective of the week this year, Minister Khagendra Jamatia said that the through the 61^st State cooperative week the state govt. is moving forward to strengthen the state cooperative, to overlook what are lacking behind in the cooperatives, and emphasizing the need to involve more member under the cooperative.

The state has recently got 8 lakhs and 30 thousands members participating in the cooperative movement. This includes Lamps, Pax, ADC, Sub-Divisional level apex level societies.