Kathmandu, July 7

Minister for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Eknath Dhakal on Saturday said that the ministry was committed to promoting the cooperatives sector for building a just and equitable society.

Speaking at a programme organized to mark the 90th International Cooperatives Day and the 18th Nations International Cooperative Day in the Capital today, Minister Dhakal said that the ministry would seriously implement the five-year strategy plans handed over by the cooperatives movement for the betterment of the cooperatives sector in the country.

On the occasion, cooperatives activists had handed over a five-year strategy plans to the minister. The five-year strategy plan aims at promoting cooperative movement in the country.

He also expressed his commitment that he would do something special being the minister of the newly formed ministry.

Keshav Bhattarai, Secretary at the Ministry of Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, said that the ministry should do something to keep its name.

"As the ministry’s name stands cooperatives and poverty alleviation, it should do something to alleviate poverty through cooperatives movement," he said.

Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada said that there was no possibility of ending poverty from the country without promoting cooperatives sector.

"If we wished to end poverty and depravity without promoting cooperatives sector, it will be a vain move," he said adding that the NRB was brining special programmes for the promotion of cooperatives in the country.

Keshav Badal, Chairman of the National Cooperatives Federation (NCF), said that the gaovernment should be committed to implementing the five-year strategy plan.

He also asked the government to endorse National Cooperative Policy.

On the occasion, best cooperatives and activists were awarded with prizes. Tanahun Dairy Cooperative, Tanahun, Srijana Saving and Credit Cooperative, Chitwan, Nepal Multipurpose Cooperative, Itahari, Himchuli Cooperative, Baitadi and Himalaya Cooperative, Okhaldunga were awarded.

Similarly, the cooperatives activists had also felicitated Shiva Dangi, general secretary of Nepal Information Cooperative Limited for successfully climbing Mt. Everest representing the cooperative sector.

Cooperatives activists marked the 90th International Cooperative Day and the 18th United Nations International Cooperative Day on Saturday throughout the world.

The first Saturday of July used to be marked as the International Cooperative Day. Meanwhile, Nepalese cooperatives movement marked the day by organizing various activities.