Bay News Network, Visakhapatnam: There is a need to highlight the strength achievement of cooperatives and work together to create awareness in public and members stated by Dr. Dinesh, Chief Executive, National Co-operative Union of India, New Delhi. Speaking at the meeting arranged at the Head Office of the A.P. Mahesh Cooperative Urban Bank as a part of “2012- International Year of Cooperatives” today. He further said that there are 1645 UCBs in the country and successful UCBs are coming down.

Mahesh Bank’s performance has been very exciting and is being quoted as an example in every forum. Dr. Dinesh further said that this year – International Year of Co-operatives highlights the significance of cooperation. There are 25 crore members in 1 lakh existing cooperatives in the country. Cooperation has emerged as an important vehicle for the development of the country. In cooperatives, regional imbalances shall be eliminated. We have to take steps for reviving non-viable cooperative institutions. Every co-operator should ensure active participation and involvement the members actively in decision making. Cooperative management shall be on professional lines and should compete with the players in economy by infusing professionalism. For this, grooming, training and developing the members, managements and workforce are necessary.

When compared to the entire world, our country has 2% of land, 4% of water resources but occupying 17% of population. Cultivable land is gradually coming down. In this backdrop, relevance of cooperation is more significant and should come out of traditional means and ways, Dr. Dinesh concluded.

In his opening remarks, Ramesh Kumar Bung has narrated about the events conducted by the bank during the year so far. He then briefed about the progress and performance of the bank. Bung spoke about importance of cooperative movement in the state and the measures taken up by cooperative sector for its further development.

The meeting was presided over by Ramesh Kumar Bung, Chairman. H.S.K. Tangirala, Director, Stanley, Dy. Director, ICM, Hyderabad, Umesh Chand Asawa, MD & CEO, other executives of the Bank have participated in the meeting.