PRESS  RELEASE

 Introductory meeting of officers & staff of the Cooperation Department including Chief Executives of Apex cooperative societies viz;  Sikkim State Cooperative Bank Ltd. (SISCO), Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd.(SCMU), Sikkim State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd. (SIMFED), Denzong Agriculture Cooperative Society Ltd. (DACS), Sikkim State Cooperative Union (SICUN), and Sikkim Consumers’ Cooperative Society Ltd. (SCCS) with Hon’ble Minister, Cooperation & RMDD was held on 23^rd May 2009 at 11.00 A.M. in the conference hall of Sahakari Bhawan, Tadong, Gangtok. The Hon’ble Minister, Shri C.B. Karki was welcomed by Secretary Cooperation, Mrs. N. Yethenpa, on behalf of the department and apex organizations and hoped that the department would progress under the leadership of Hon’ble Minister. Principal Registrar,      Shri D.N. Tewari, briefly highlighted activities including administrative structure of the department. The Chief Executives of all Apex cooperatives also briefly highlighted the objectives and activities of the respective organizations and also shared their problems in the meeting. The programme was then addressed by Hon’ble Minister, Cooperation who assured full support to the department and apex institutions in promoting cooperative movement in the State for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural masses.

                          The programme was rounded off with vote of thanks by Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Shri W.T. Bhutia.

     COOPERATION DEPARTMENT
SAHAKARI BHAWAN, TADONG, GANGTOK

Brief write up in respect of National Cooperative Fair 2009, Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The National Cooperative Fair 2009 was held at the Pink City of JAIPUR, from 2nd - 12th January 2009. The fair was jointly organized by the Cooperative Department and the Consumer Federation of Rajasthan in the premises of Jahawar Kala Kendra. The fair was inaugurated by the Minister for Cooperation, Shri. Parsadi Lal Meena. Over 165 cooperative societies from across the country had participated in the National level fair. Cooperative institutions from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jharkhand, along with Rajasthan had taken part in the fair.

For the first time in the National level Cooperative fair, Sikkim was represented by the four members of Nayuma Women’s Cooperative Society ltd. and the Officer Incharge Tshering Topgay Bhutia, Asstt. Registrar. Miss Jasmoti Limboo and Ms. Chezom Sherpa were entrusted to exhibit and sale their products which included traditional dresses and hats of Sikkimese origin and their handicrafts products whereas Food stall was entrusted to Ms Doma Sherpa and Ms Rajani Limboo.

During the 11 days fair, the Society has been able to make a business transaction of Rs 65,000/- plus. Besides economic transaction, the members of the Society got the platform to interact with the management and the members of the developed and developing Cooperative states. Cultural and traditional values were also exchanged with the introduction of Traditional food of Sikkim.

The officer in charge of Nayuma Women’s Cooperative Society Tshering Topgay Bhutia also attended seminar on Importance of Human Resource Development in Cooperative Organization in context of Present Economic Scenario of Recession on 10th Jan 09 in the Apex Bank of Rajasthan. The Seminar was conducted by Shri Bhagwati Prasad who is the Chief Executive (HRD) of NCUI, Delhi.

At the closing ceremony of the National Cooperative Fair 2009 Jaipur, President, NCUI was the Chief Guest and Principal Secretary, Cooperative Deptt.; Registrar, Cooperative Societies Rajasthan; Addl. Registrar Jharkhand were the other distinguished guests on the platform.

During prize distribution ceremony, Nayuma Women’s Cooperative Society ltd. was adjudged First in the Pioneering Cooperative Societies Category leaving behind 164 Cooperative Societies. The award was unexpected for there was so many other Cooperative Societies in the line. Having won an award in the National level Cooperative Fair for the first time has put another milestone in the Cooperative Movement in Sikkim. The award will go a long way in encouraging other Cooperative Societies in the state and help to speed up the Cooperative movement in the state of Sikkim. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

For excelling in their performance, primary cooperative societies are awarded " Cooperative Excellence Award" by National Cooperative Development Corporation once in two years since 2002 as recognition of their achievements.

Under this, the selected societies are presented cash award of Rs. 50,000/- along with a Certificate of recognition. The selection procedure is made in two stages. In the first stage, a State level Selection Committe constituted for the purpose with Regional Director, NCDC as convener will recommend 3 (three) best societies in each state/U.T for final selection to be made by NCDC, HO, New Delhi.

Mangan MPCS Ltd. was selected for this year Award. The President of the society, Mrs. Chumki Saring who is also Chairperson, Sikkim Commission for protection of Child Rights went to receive the award on behalf of the society. The function was held pm 15th January 2009 at NCUI Auditorium, Hauz Khas, New Delhi wherein the Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation, Shri Sharad Pawar presented the award to the selected societies.  

Mrs. Saring on her return to the state visited the department to share her views about her exposure to the cooperative movement and informed that the activities taken up by societies in our state, the number of members, the total volume of business etc. do not match up with the societies of other states. She left with the Award for her Society with new zeal and fervor to work harder for the development of movement in the State.

On the 20th of October 2008, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Cooperation Department on behalf of the Government of Sikkim and Executive Director, RBI Shri V. S. Das signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Pr. RCS, Cooperation Department, Government of Sikkim, Shri D. N. Tewari and Regional Director, RBI (Kolkatta) Shri B. Mahapatra.
The motive for signing of the above MoU was

a) To constitute a State Level Task force for Urban Cooperative Banks for  identification and drawing up of a time bound action plan for revival of potentially viable Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) and non-disruptive exit for non-viable Urban Cooperative Banks.

b)  To facilitate human resource development and IT initiatives in UCBs.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by President, Citizen Urban Cooperative Bank, Gangtok, Managing Director, Citizen Urban Cooperative Bank, Registrar, Cooperation Department, Sikkim, DGM SISCO Bank, Chief General Manager, RBI, DGM RBI and Manager RBI.  
 

Comm-cum-Secretary Co-operation has inaugurated two room RCC building of Chuba Perbing MPCS at Chuba, South Sikkim on 27th September, 2008. Rs. 2.50 lakhs was provided by the department as financial assistance for construction of society's building from State plan during 2006-07. Pr. Registrar, Shri D. N. Tewari and Addl. Registrar, Shri. Dorji Dadul also attended the inaugural programme. More than 100 villagers of the locality including President, committee members and the members of the society were present in the programme.

Comm-cum-Secretary, Cooperation Department, Mr. Girmee Goparma inaugurated   three-day Leadership Programme on Transformational Leadership for Board of Directors and Senior Executives of Cooperatives organized by Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) PUNE. This programme which started from 25th September 2008 is held at Hotel Sikkim Continental, Gangtok and it is attended by 60 participants from Urban and Milk Cooperatives across the Country.  
The resources persons include faculty members from VAMNICOM, Pune. The key note address was given by Comm-Cum-Secretary, Cooperation. Pr. Registrar, Cooperation, Mr. D. N. Tewari was also invited to attend the inaugural session.  
Topics like Corporate Transformation, challenge of transformation, transformational leadership, its implication and competitiveness, parenting transformational leaders, competition and performance will be discussed.

 The 12th Annual General Meeting of the Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd has been scheduled to be held at Regional Administrative Center, Jorethang on 1st October 2008. the agenda of the meeting will include placing of Annual Accounts of Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. Placing of the Budget and Annual Action Plan (AAP) for the financial year 2008-09 for approval. Amendment of the Bye-Laws of the Union will also be placed for approval. Other business with the permission of the chair will also be placed before the members.

Consequent upon the setting up of Regional Administrative Center at Jorethang, the following officers were transferred and posted from the Cooperation Department:-
Mr. Dilip Tamang Joint Registrar (Namchi) transferred and posted as Joint Registrar, RAC, Jorethang. He will continue to hold the charges of Joint Registrar (Namchi) in addition to his duties
Mr. Sonam Bhutia, Assistant Registrar , (Pakyong) is transferred and posted as Assistant Registrar, RAC
Mr. Tenzing Gelay, Assistant Registrar, Pakyong is transferred and posted as Assistant Registrar, RAC
        In addition, the following officers have been transferred and posted as well:-
Ms. Kesang Yanki, Assistant Registrar is transferred and posted as Assistant Registrar, Pakyong
Ms. Sarda Roka, Assistant Registrar (Gangtok) is transferred and posted as Assistant Registrar, Pakyong