Kathmandu, July 6

The Cooperatives sector is all set to contribute around 25 per cent to the national gross domestic products (GDP) and 35 per cent to the total financial sector’s contribution within the next one decade to bring in revolutionary change in the socio-economic and cultural lives of their shareholders in line with the three-pillar economic policy embraced by the country.

Similarly, the cooperatives sector aims at creating just and equitable society ending all forms of inequalities and discrimination creating employment opportunities within the country and increasing production and productivity of the land.

The ‘Five-year Cooperative Strategy Paper’ prepared by the National Cooperatives Federation (NCF) along with other cooperatives unions across the country, envisaged a peaceful, prosperous and civilised Nepal.

Likewise, the strategy paper provisions to keep the cooperatives movement aloof from the political interference.

"The cooperatives sector will be kept free from the political and administrative interference," the strategy paper mentions.

Presently, the cooperatives sector is said to be in the grip of the political parties and it is working as per their intention.

However, the strategy paper has vowed to free the movement from the political hold.

Taking the present notoriety of the cooperatives sector due to a number of ‘bad cooperatives’, the new strategy paper aims at making the movement fair and transparent.

For this, the strategy paper has a provision to lobby for stern action against the activists who take benefits abusing their authority.

Stating that the present cooperatives movement had to face obstacles owing to the lack of skilled staff and proper education for the activists.

Saying that the government should provide aid and subsidy to the farmers in line with the neighbouring countries, the strategy paper provisions to channel all the government’s resources and aid to the farmers through cooperatives.

Stating that Nepal’s cooperatives sector had lagged behind others due to the lack of research and development, the strategy paper aims to increase the education and training centers related to cooperatives in the country and establish cooperatives research and development centre.

The cooperatives activists have prepared the ‘Five Year Strategy Paper’ incorporating suggestions from the cooperatives entrepreneurs, cooperatives activists, cooperatives experts across the country.

The cooperatives activists are planning to handover the strategy paper to the Minister for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Eknath Dhakal on Saturday.

The cooperatives movement has set to mobilise its internal resources for attaining and implementing all the programmes and activities included in the strategy paper.