The Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperation (CEDC) of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) hosted a landmark Stakeholder Meeting in collaboration with the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) on February 26th. The event witnessed the active participation of esteemed faculties from various prestigious institutions designated as Regional Coordinating Institutions (RCIs) under UBA, along with representatives from NGOs and Industry Groups.
The primary focus of the meeting was to foster collaboration among stakeholders to empower cooperatives and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in 25 locations across India. Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, a flagship program of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, currently encompasses 4000 colleges/universities and 20,000 villages nationwide.
Sumit Singh, Advisor (Strategy and Cooperation), NCUI, provided an insightful introduction, highlighting the significant role of cooperative entrepreneurship in uplifting marginalized communities. He elaborated on key NCUI initiatives such as the NCUI Haat, Incubation Centre, and Skill Development Centre aimed at capacity-building within cooperatives across India.
Senior faculties from IIT Delhi, the National Coordinating Institution for UBA, shed light on the program’s objectives and its pivotal role in fostering community development.
Manik Batra, Chairman, ASSOCHAM J&K Council, graced the event as the Special Guest and emphasized the critical role of Industry in bolstering the cooperative movement. He underscored the importance of sustainability measures in rural livelihoods, particularly focusing on food security and healthy practices.
Prof. Suyash Tiwary from GIM, Goa, and Dr. Sandeep Ghosh from IIT BHU discussed the necessity of identifying technology needs for artisans and the transformative potential of entrepreneurship development in community empowerment. A consensus was reached during the meeting to conduct comprehensive need assessments for selected cooperatives and SHGs across pilot project locations. Subsequently, an implementation plan will be devised based on these assessments. The Stakeholder Meeting marks a significant stride towards fostering collaboration and synergy among institutions and organizations committed to the holistic development of cooperatives and SHGs across India.
