Cooperative movement should be headed to socialism: PM Prachanda

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that cooperative movement should be headed in the path of socialism and positive efforts were necessary for the same.

Inaugurating the first national conference of Cooperative Centre Nepal (CCN) here today, Prime Minister Prachanda pointed out the need of heading the cooperative movement in a right track by carrying out study on various issues related to cooperatives at party committee in all levels.

He mentioned that cooperatives of Nepal have been facing crisis due to impacts of global economic crisis, adding the government has been adopting various measures for policy and practical solutions to address the problems of cooperative sector.

Stating that the budget for coming fiscal year has made necessary amendment to cooperative related laws in order to run cooperatives in a legal manner, the PM explained that a regulatory body would be formed to regulate saving and credit cooperatives.

He further said that a high-powered parliamentary committee has been formed to study cooperatives facing crisis and investigate on the cooperative fund embezzlement, recommend action against guilty and to present suggestion to resolve problems, expressing belief that the committee would present necessary suggestions for long-term solution to problems of cooperative sector.

Stressing that budget has been allocated to increase production and productive by commercializing and modernizing agriculture, Prime Minister Dahal explained that investment decade (2081-2091) in agriculture has been announced to increase investment in agriculture sector.

Special priority has been given to promotion of private sector, development of agriculture, energy, information technology, tourism, infrastructure and industry as well as education and health, he opined, adding the role of cooperative sector would be significant for implementation of programmes forwarded in the budget.

The PM underlined the activities to foil the cooperative movement in the pretext of problems should be stopped and the cooperative movement of Nepal has been facing serious challenges in recent period.

He added, “There is a tendency of raising question about the justification of cooperatives showing the problems of cooperatives. It should be ended.”