Kathmandu, Apr. 2

Cooperative activists and members marked the 55th National Cooperatives Day across the country by organising various programmes.

The establishment of Bakhan Credit Cooperative in Chitwan on Chaitra 20 about 55 years ago is being celebrated as the National Cooperatives Day by cooperative activists.

However, at a time when the United Nations has declared the year 2012 as the International Cooperative Year, the National Cooperative Federation, the umbrella organisation of the cooperatives in Nepal, has failed to organise any national-level programme with the participation of cooperative leaders.

Deepak Prakash Baskota, cooperative activists, has expressed his frustration, as the cooperative sector has not given continuity to a peace rally being organised on the occasion of the National Cooperative Day.

"I urged Chairman of National Cooperative Federation Keshav Badal to give continuity to the peace rally. But he has not listened to our suggestion," he said.

Surendra Bhandari, another cooperative activist, also expressed dissatisfaction over the reluctance of cooperative leaders to celebrate the National Cooperative Day.

Such a failure in organising events has raised questions over the ability of the Nepalese cooperative leaders, he argued.

Meanwhile, organising an event, the Division Cooperative Office, Kathmandu has felicitated Sitapaila Cooperative and Thankot Mahila Jagaran Cooperative as the best cooperatives of the year.

Speaking at an event organised by the District Cooperatives Association Kathmandu, Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal stressed the need for commercialisation and democratisation of the cooperative sector for its development in Nepal.