Drive to revive Co-op Movement

by Elmo Leonard

The Cooperative Movement counts 100 years in existence this year and a drive is under way to revive the movement to assist the poor at large. Simultaneously, to undertake and fine tune trading, among them being, the importation of vehicles, its maintenance and repair. Also, to compete with the private sector in other identified areas of commerce, Director, Central Province, Vehicle Dealings Cooperative Society, A.W. Dharmasena said.

Chief Minister for the Central Province, Sarath Ekanayake said that the Mahinda Chinthanaya requires the strengthening of the cooperative movement, and accordingly, much work will be undertaken, beginning in the Central Province, where the movement began. It is intended to strengthen the movement around the island with emphasis on the rural sector.

For the first time a diploma course on the cooperative movement will be on offer at the Peradeniya University, Ratnayake said. Before 1977, a strong cooperative movement was responsible for the distribution of all consumer produce, perishable, such as pulses and Maldive fish and durables as sarees and dress fabrics, minister Ekanayake said.

With the onset of the open economy in 1977, the private sector took over the distribution of all consumer goods. With it, the cooperative movement went into hibernation, while branches of it evolved into the Janasaviya and Samudri schemes, which assist the poor, minister Ekanayake said.

With politics, inefficiency and corruption entering the cooperative movement, young people shun employment in it. Now, to attract young people in, 4000 cooperative employees are entitled to receive pensions on retirement. Rural banks under this movement will be strengthened and introduced to all rural sectors. Also, women's cooperative societies will be set up, minister Ekanayake said.

Beginning January 2007, and with emphasis in the central province, where there are 42 cooperative societies, more rural banks will be set up, and the rural lending schemes will be diversified and broadened. Loans through the SANASA Banks will provide lending to rural folk to begin self-employment ventures, and in the agriculture sector, even to buy agricultural equipment, Commissioner for Cooperatives for the Central Province (CCP) Wasantha Ratnayake said.

Ten selected rural banks will be computerised. Ten cooperative societies will work with schools, and teach children to save money. Starting with the central province, ten milk-collecting centres will be set up in the island.

Another program will be started to strengthen inland fisheries including the introduction of new species into inland water bodies. The development of estate housing will be taken up, Ratnayake said.