Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Nov 15: Minister for cooperation S T Somashekhar Gowda on Sunday November 15 said that along with taking steps to ensure that no injustice was done to depositors who have kept their money and valuables in cooperative banks, severe action would be taken against any bank that provide loans without documents.
Somashekhar was speaking after inaugurating the 67th All India Cooperative Week at TV Ramana Pai auditorium in the city.
The minister further said, "All the 280 cooperative banks of Karnataka are functioning in an excellent manner. They occupy top spot in giving loans as well as recovery. Fraud that has taken place in one cooperative bank does not mean that all banks are not functioning properly. However, strict action will be taken against bank officials who cheat the depositors.
"A proposal has been sent to centre to provide Rs 600 crore to the cooperative sector out of the funds that are reserved for the state under Atmanirbhar scheme. Karnataka is the first state to place such a proposal with the union government.
"The programme of giving loans under financial response has started in four cooperative zones of Mysuru, Bengaluru, Belagavi and Kalaburagi. Nodal officers have been entrusted with the responsibility of tracking the actual usage of the loan taken from these banks," he said.
Dr M N Rajendra Kumar, chairman of SCDCC Bank said, "Government has given approval to start cooperative study centre in Mangaluru university. It will start from this year itself. Cooperative week is feast for cooperatives. The main intention of celebrating this week is to unite everyone and better our life. SCDCC bank is the first cooperative bank that has repaid 100% agricultural loan over the past 25 years. It has given fierce competition to many nationalized banks also."
A special souveneir edition of Sahakara Pathrike was released during the programme. In addition, good Navodaya self-help associations were felicitated. President of SCDCC bank Dr M N Rajendra Kumar flagged off the Sahakari Jatha which was held before the programme. Mayor Diwakar Pandeshwar inaugurated the complex of cooperative associations.
MLA Vedavyas Kamath, who presided over the function, hoisted the flag. State BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA and president of Fisheries Federation Yashpal Suvarna, Campco president S R Sathishchandra, KMF president Raviraj Hegde, SKADS president Ravindra Kambali, vice-president of SCDCC Bank Vinay Kumar Soorinje, president of State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Shadakshari, registrar of cooperative associations S Ziaullah, president of district cooperative union Bellippady Prasad Kausal Shetty, additional registrar of cooperative associations Devaraj C N, managing director of State Cooperative Sales Federation R Sridhar, deputy registrar of cooperative associations Prakash Rao, Praveen B Nayak, B K Saleem, CEO of SCDCC Bank Ravindra B, president of Udupi district cooperative union B Jayakara Shetty Indrali, administrative officer of State Cooperative Federation Y H Gopalakrishna, managing director Dr K C Yathish Kumar, S N Arun Kumar, deputy director of cooperative associations K S Balasubramanya, CEO of Navodaya grama Vikasa charitable trust Poornima Shetty and CEO of Dakshina Kannada district cooperative union Purushotham S C were present.
Permission letter was handed over symbolically to five representatives of cooperative sector and society for Janaushadi centres.
Cheques were distributed to beneficiaries of Badavara Bandhu scheme, awards were given to good cooperative associations and excellent cooperatives. Special prize was awarded to Atmashakti multipurpose cooperative society of Mangaluru and good Navodaya self-help associations. Key note address was delivered before the beginning of the stage programme by retired additional registrar of cooperative department Shashidhara Yele. Manohar Prasad compered the programme.