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Bantwal (Dakshina Kannada) , Nov. 14

THE 50th all-India co-operative week (Suvarna Sahakari Sapthaha) celebrations, which began at B.C. Road in Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada on Friday, called for reservation for minorities and backward class in co-operative sectors.

Speakers at the inauguration demanded that interest rates for agriculture loans be in the range of 4 per cent to 5 per cent. The co-operatives were also informed about the need to compete in the era of globalisation.

The Co-operative Minister, Mr H. Vishwanath, who inaugurated the celebrations in the absence of the Chief Minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, said that minorities and backward classes should be given adequate reservation in the co-operative sector.

Referring to the incidences of farmers' suicide in the State, the Minister said that the co-operative sector would submit a proposal to the Chief Minister to bring the interest rate on farm loans in the range of four per cent to five per cent in the next budget. The State and the Union Governments, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Reserve Bank of India should look into this matter, he said.

The centenary celebration of the co-operative movement would be held in 2004, he said.

The Chairman of the Revenue Reforms Commission , Mr M. Veerappa Moily, said that strengthening of the co-operative sector will pose a strong challenge to the private sector and contribute to the development of the nation.

Lauding the role of co-operative banks in the welfare of farmers in the State, Mr Moily said of the Rs 15,000-crore deposits collected by these banks, nearly Rs 11,000 crore has been distributed for the welfare of farmers. Though the commercial banks in the State collected nearly Rs 65,000 crore, they spent only Rs 3,200 crore for farmers, he added.

Reduction in interest rate on agriculture loans could help prevent farmers from committing suicide. This would also stop them from approaching money-lenders, he added.

The AICC General Secretary, Mr Oscar Fernandes, who lauded the role of co-operative sector in the development of self-help groups in the State, stressed the need for discussion on reduction of interest on agriculture loans. Mr M.N. Rajendra, President of the South Canara District Central Cooperative Bank, who welcomed the gathering, said the co-operative week celebration committee would donate Rs 2 lakh to the drought relief fund.Nearly 65,000 members from various women self-help groups attended the function.

Website on co-operative audit: As part of programmes to implement e-governance in the State, the Karnataka Government today launched a Web site on the Directorate of Co-operative Audit. The Web site, www.sahakaradarpana.kar.nic.in, developed by the National Informatics Centre, Bangalore, will give information on annual audit reports of various co-operative societies. Information will be available in Kannada and English.

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