Itanagar, Nov 15: The 72nd All India Cooperative Week, coinciding with the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Arunachal Pradesh State Cooperative Union (APSCU), commenced on Friday at IG Park here.
Gracing the inaugural function, Minister for Cooperation, Ojing Tasing, in his address, announced that the new Arunachal Pradesh Cooperative Policy 2026 is likely to be introduced soon. He urged cooperative societies to reduce dependency on government funding and to work collectively in tune with the changing socio-economic needs.
He emphasised that cooperatives must contribute meaningfully to the state’s development, at par with successful cooperative models in other parts of India. The Minister also underlined the crucial role of APSCU in strengthening and streamlining the cooperative movement in the coming years.
NABARD General Manager S B Rangarao encouraged cooperatives to adopt proper planning for holistic socio-economic development of their members. He stressed on professionalising cooperative activities to ensure grassroots self-reliance, aligning with the national vision of “Cooperatives as vehicles for Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Eminent academicians from Rajiv Gandhi University — Prof (Dr) Devi Baruah (Commerce) and Prof (Dr) Vandana Upadhyay (Economics) — delivered insightful talks on self-reliance and the role of cooperatives in GDP contribution, employment generation, sustainable practices, business organisation and professionalisation.
APSCU Chairman Nabam Tahi Nekil highlighted several long-pending grievances and the need for a comprehensive framework for cooperative development in the state. APSCU CEO Techi Kaku presented an overview of the series of events organised as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations alongside the Cooperative Week 2025.
Advisor to APSCU and Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Organising Committee, Techi Azad, and Dy RCS, Department of Cooperation, Michi Gumbo also spoke on the occasion.
The programme witnessed the participation of around 295 attendees, including officers, HoDs, representatives of federal cooperative organisations, district cooperative unions, LAMPS, primary cooperative societies, cooperative leaders, students, youths, unemployed youths and well-wishers.