Tell us about your background, and what brought you to working with cooperatives?

Thank you! So, I come from a Development Communication background. I pursued B. Sc. Honours Home Science from the University of Delhi; which is not only about cooking and stitching, unlike the common belief ;-)  Development Communication and Extension were my majors in graduation, and I did my Post Graduation in Media Governance from Jamia Millia Islamia University. 

In a career of 4 years, most of my work experience has been with a social enterprise working on the ground with producer companies (PCs). PCs - a model of collective enterprises is very similar to cooperatives and that is exactly how I got to know about cooperatives. However, I recently gained an understanding of cooperatives when I came across ICA-AP and started reading about it in detail. I had been involved in communications and outreach for the social enterprise as well as the PCs to help them gain members. So, I come with a mix of both traditional and mainstream communication experience. 

That's interesting! Given your experience as a Communication, Knowledge Management and Outreach Professional, what applications do you foresee with the cooperative movement?

I guess the experience will help in strengthening the communications and outreach “of the” and “for the” cooperative movement through ICA-AP. The communications and outreach strategy of ICA-AP is comprehensive, but we do need to focus a bit more on member communication as much as we focus on cooperative communication. I will try and contribute more in that direction as well.

Great! What is your role going to be at ICA? And how does working with cooperatives align with what you want to do?

I am joining as the Communications and Membership Development Officer (CMDO). “Cooperate” is a very commonly used word and cooperative values are very much a part of humankind which people tend to overlook easily. However, these very basic values are necessary to be practised given the present circumstances. People are now realising the importance of “Cooperation”. Even the big Corporates nowadays are talking about cooperation and collective actions, so why not us and me? 

Cooperatives are a win-win structure, they are inclusive, give complete autonomy, rights, benefits, and a sense of community and belongingness. And, this is the need of the hour given the sad world that we live in today. I have been a people’s person and don’t believe in isolation so carrying forward that value in my work will be something that I will enjoy, and I can see myself committedly working for it. I also understand that the picture will not be all rosy and philosophical like my answer, but I will like to use my skills for doing something that gives satisfaction on a personal level as well.