ICA-AP in collaboration with Access Livelihood Consulting (India) organised a Consultation on Autonomy & Independence of Co-operatives on September 14-15 at Administrative Staff College of India's (ASCI) College Park campus in Hyderabad, Telangana.
The consultation predominantly looked at how well or not ‘autonomy and independence’ is represented in existing co-operative legislations and policy frameworks in select countries in South Asia. It was designed to help participants share knowledge and practices from their experiences on autonomy and independence of co-operatives and also build their capacities in ensuring a conducive business and administrative environment. The consultation was followed by a field visit to Mulkanoor Co-operative Rural Bank & Marketing Society and Mulkanoor Women's Co-operative Dairy, both based in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.
The consultation was well represented by Alliance members and government representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka; organisations such as Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, Karnataka State Souharda Federal Co-operative, RamRahim Pragati Producer Company, Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society and regional & international development agencies such as Friends of Women's World Banking, Rural Enterprise Development Corporation, Sampark Foundation, Technoserve and Reliance Foundation. The event also saw participation from academicians and technocrats from Agriculture Co-operative Staff Training Institute, Kerala Agricultural University, Institute of Co-operative Management, National Payments Corporation of India & Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence.
The format was a mix of presentations, lectures and discussions in working groups. The forum allowed participants to actively contribute and participate during and after the seminar, thus forming knowledge partnerships across sectors. Findings from the consultation will provide important reference points for a thematic research to be undertaken in the region under the ICA-EU Partnership on Co-operatives in Development: People Centred Businesses in Action.
