Growth of Cooperative Societies is Essential for the Development of the Nation, said MLC Suja Kushalappa. He was addressing the concluding ceremony of the 72nd All India Cooperative Week held at the I. Belyappa Memorial Hall of Unnathi Bhavan, Kodagu District Cooperative Central Bank. The event was jointly organised by the Karnataka State Cooperative Federation Limited, Kodagu District Cooperative Union Ltd, Kodagu District Cooperative Central Bank, Karnataka Institute of Cooperative Management and various local cooperative societies.
He emphasised that cooperative societies are the backbone for farmers, supporting agriculture, horticulture, milk production, sugar and housing activities. Cooperative societies have played a vital role in providing credit and education facilities in rural areas.
DCC Bank President Kodandera P. Ganapathy said uniform software has been adopted in cooperative banks and digitisation measures have been initiated similar to nationalised banks. He spoke about pilot projects in Karnataka and Maharashtra for further development.
The cooperative sector has expanded into petrol pumps, hospitals and welfare centres, and preserving land under cooperative societies is essential, he said. Kodagu DCC Bank operates 24 branches and is planning to open additional branches in Titimathi, Kakkabbe and Guddehosur.
Senior cooperative leader Chiriyapanda K. Uthappa, recipient of the Kodagu Cooperative Ratna Award, and Director M. M. Shyamala spoke on the occasion.
Outstanding members including H. S. Muddappa, Talur Kishore Kumar, Devambika Mahesh and Alemada S. Kaweramma were felicitated with shawls and fruit tambulas.
Several district cooperative leaders and officials attended the event. H. K. Madappa welcomed the gathering, Manjula offered the prayer, and CEO Yogendra Nayak delivered the vote of thanks.
