This story is from January 16, 2017

Pawar criticises govt over policies on cooperative sector

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday expressed doubt over whether the ruling parties had any faith in the cooperative sector while framing related policies.
Pawar criticises govt over policies on cooperative sector
NCP chief Sharad Pawar
AURANGABAD: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday expressed doubt over whether the ruling parties had any faith in the cooperative sector while framing related policies.
Pawar was addressing a special convention on the fate of cooperative sector in Aurangabad on Monday, where he termed the common man as the ‘centre point’ of the cooperative field.
“The cooperative movement, which had its genesis in Maharashtra, is in danger.
The network of different organisations running on the cooperative principle has a bearing on the lives of commoners. If the cooperative sector is in danger, the common man will be in difficulty,” the former Union minister, said.
Pawar, who recently completed 50 years in active political life, criticised the Centre’s policy decisions governing cooperative banks post demonetisation. “Cooperative banks across the country were kept out of the currency exchange business post demonetisation. As a result of this, the entire sector was in the dock. Different organisations depending on these banks such as milk societies and cooperative societies have still been bearing the brunt of this policy decision,” he said.
He added that stakeholders received relief after approaching the Supreme Court, but it was inadequate. The NCP chief also said that the state has been meddling with the functioning of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC).
“The government intervention was uncalled for in APMCs and farmers’ interests are hurt because of this. The concerned decision also paved the way for profiteering in these bodies,” he said.

Pawar added that demonetisation has caused losses to industries and produced unemployment. “MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) has seen a significant rise in the number of takers post demonetisation. The number of beneficiaries has shot up to 83 lakh a day from the earlier 30 lakh per day. As unemployment increased, the affected workforce was forced to take jobs under MNREGA,” he said.
Summing up his address, Pawar called for all-party unity for revival of the cooperative sector. “Issues plaguing the cooperative sector need to be addressed at the state and central levels through rigorous follow-up. This can only be done by political unity,” he said.
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade, Shiv Sena Minister Arjun Khotkar and local MP Chandrakant Khaire also expressed their views at the convention.
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