The National Cooperative Development Corporation organized a regional workshop on ways to strengthen women-led co-operatives in Chennai, a capital city located in South India. The workshop was held in collaboration with the Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW). ICNW is a social movement of 1 million women in three southern states of India, namely Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, with 14 branches spread over 3840 villages and 2426 slums.

Dr. Azad addressing the delegates during the Workshop

Dr. Nandini Azad, President, ICNW and Acting Chairperson of the ICA-AP Committee on Women, highlighted the dire need for more women to occupy positions of leadership in co-operatives, or they will continue to face oppression and discrimination. “For the rural woman, co-operatives are a panacea, given their invisible, low-paid work, lack of access to legal protection and productive assets. There is a need to bring about professionalism in the co-operative business models to turn them into vehicles of inclusive growth,” she was quoted as saying by a national daily. She implored NCDC to provide means for the women to apply to them for funds for their co-operatives; a process that requires a certain degree of hand-holding. Dr. Azad also called attention to the need for an enabling environment and support services that help women balance work and familial responsibilities.

NCDC Managing Director, Mr. Sandeep Kumar Nayak, reassured the participants that NCDC will put in more efforts to encourage and empower the women’s co-operatives in states like Tamil Nadu. Mr. D.N.Thakur, Deputy Managing Director, NCDC felt that co-operatives are an important medium to unite women which will help them face the vagaries of the market, and help each other attain their common economic and social goals.