Centre's attempts to centralise powers in the cooperative sector not in the best interests of the country: K.N. Balagopal
Speaking at the Cooperative Expo organised at the Kanakakkunnu grounds here by the Cooperation department, Mr. Balagopal said the unilateral decisions taken by the Union government in the cooperative sector were designed to assume control over the funds in the sector and its vast potential.
The Centre was using multi-state cooperatives to push its policies through in the States. The attempts to centralise powers in the cooperative sector is not in the best interests of the nation, Mr. Balagopal said. The Centre should instead focus on empowering the cooperative sector which can benefit the common people both financially and in terms of employment, he said.
While the cooperative sector are normally seen as credit societies, it can, in fact play a major role in taking the agriculture sector and the production sector forward, Mr. Balagopal said.
Pachamama Coffee
Vijoo Krishnan, general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, underscored the need for the cooperatives to expand, drawing attention to the example of the Pachamama Coffee, which is governed through the farmer cooperative business model in the south and central Americas.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
6 minutes ago
- First Post
What happened to Syria's missing children: Assad regime hid them in orphanages, says report
The Assad government forcefully disappeared at least 3,700 children whose parents were disloyal to the regime. The figures have been confirmed by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, although the true numbers could be much higher It's been over six months since Syria's Bashar al-Assad-led regime was overthrown after widespread rebellion in the country. Syrians, who were once troubled by the government, are now trying to ascertain the fate of their loved ones who disappeared during Assad's rule, including thousands of children. An investigation by the New York Times reveals that the Assad government forcefully disappeared at least 3,700 children whose parents were disloyal to the regime. The figures have been confirmed by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, although the true numbers could be much higher. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Where were these children sent? Hundreds of children were forcibly separated from their families and placed in orphanages, some run by the NGO SOS Children's Villages. Many were assigned false identities, making it nearly impossible for relatives to find them. Some were later adopted. Classified documents and intelligence databases created by Air Force Intelligence, the agency tasked with running the operation, obtained by the NYT, expose the full scale of the Assad regime's secretive and brutal operation. Senior Air Force Intelligence officials passed the orders to remove children from their parents' care by asking the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour or the governor of Rural Damascus to find orphanage placements. They were also instructed to seek the approval of the mukhabarat, or secret police, before taking any action. Ministers and governors subsequently instructed orphanages to conceal the children and withhold any identifying information. The Times discovered that at least nine facilities took in these children, including six operated by SOS Children's Villages. Identities altered The publication interviewed several children whose identities were changed during their detention. Videt, the SOS spokesman, said 'it is impossible to confirm whether all names were accurate,' but maintained that SOS 'was never instructed to change or invent names for children in our care.' In Syria, children officially labelled as having 'unknown parentage' are exempt from military conscription, a problem for an army desperate for recruits during the war. Several former residents of the Lahn al-Hayat orphanage said they were assigned new identities once they reached conscription age. Many were then forced into military service, and at least one was imprisoned for attempting to desert the front lines. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The new Syrian government is now investigating the forced disappearance of children during the war by forming a committee.
Hans India
6 minutes ago
- Hans India
LS adjourned briefly amid din over voter roll revision, Speaker announces full language interpretation rollout
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon on Tuesday following persistent sloganeering and disruptions by Opposition members, who demanded a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The House managed to take up only three questions during Question Hour before Speaker Om Birla called for adjournment amid rising chaos. As the session commenced, Speaker Birla made a significant announcement (in Hindi) regarding linguistic interpretation inclusivity in Parliament. He informed members that interpretation services are now available in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Previously, interpretation was provided in 18 languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Kannada, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The addition of Kashmiri, Konkani, and Santhali completes the constitutional language roster. 'India is the world's largest democracy. Let us cooperate to ensure smooth functioning of the House,' Birla urged. To which a few members quipped, 'There is a need to save the constitution.' Despite the appeal, Opposition MPs raised slogans such as 'We want justice' and 'Save the Constitution,' demanding accountability over the voter list revision in Bihar. The din rendered ministerial responses inaudible, even as Question Hour proceeded briefly. Among the few questions addressed, BJP MP Dr Sanjay Jaiswal called for the inclusion of Bhojpuri in the Constitution and sought details on the sanctioned personnel strength for the newly launched Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag. He also inquired whether Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) had been framed to integrate technology for promoting Indian languages. DMK MP Selvam G. raised concerns about the number of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, and marginalised groups benefiting from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY-G) in Tamil Nadu, including those still on the waiting list. Before the minister could answer, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the House that the Tamil Nadu government is deliberately not sanctioning houses for the poor in the state. He said he appealed and urged the Tamil Nadu government to provide houses to the poor. BJP MP Vishnu Datt Sharma questioned the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare about the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's (ICAR) mandate, seeking clarity on its responsibilities across veterinary science, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, apiculture, and natural resource management. The Monsoon Session continues to be marred by repeated adjournments, with the Opposition pressing for transparency and debate on electoral reforms.
Hans India
6 minutes ago
- Hans India
New tunnel road to ease traffic at Hebbal flyover: Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said that a new 1.5 km long tunnel road is being planned from Esteem Mall to Baptist Hospital to ease traffic at Hebbal flyover. Speaking to reporters after declaring open the new loop of Hebbal flyover from Outer Ring Road to Bellary Road, he said, 'Our government is committed to address the traffic congestion in the city. We have discussed the financial implications of the new 1.5 km tunnel road.' 'The new loop has been built at a cost of Rs 80 crore. The other loop from Esteem mall towards Mekhri circle would be read by November. The total cost of the project is Rs 300 crore. The new loops increase the number of lanes from two to six. BDA Chairman has taken the responsibility to get the other loop ready by November,' he explained. 'We have called tenders for 16.5 km tunnel road at a cost of Rs 17,000 crores. I have briefed the CM about manage traffic between Hebbal and Silk Board junctions,' he added. 'I am very transparent. Money is not important; work needs to be completed at any cost. A young MP has accused me of doing projects for money, but I don't need money. BJP hasn't done any major work during its tenure and its leaders haven't brought any funds from the Centre. Asked if the new loops of Hebbal flyover would lead to more traffic at Mekhri circle, he said, 'I can't respond to everything that is said.'
