Cooperatives' role vital to make country economically independent: PM Prachanda

Kathmandu, April 6: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that the role of cooperatives would be crucial to make the country economically independent. 

Addressing the Third National Cooperative Congress on Thursday, the PM said that the Constitution of Nepal has also acknowledged the cooperative sector as one of the pillars of the country's economy by accepting the contributions made by the cooperative campaign for the citizens' overall development. 

On the occasion, the PM pledged that the government was always ready to take needed steps to firmly establish a cooperative campaign in the country. 

"Nepal's constitution has described the cooperative sector as a strong pillar for the development of a socialism-oriented economy while giving a top priority," PM Prachanda said adding that the role of cooperative sector was far-reaching, meaningful and multi-dimensional.

The PM also asked the cooperatives to gradually shift their priorities to production and labour areas, saying that the cooperative sector has serious roles to make Nepal's economy vibrant. 

However, there are challenges in transforming the cooperatives into the production and labour areas adding the government would perform its role as a custodian by sharing those challenges to make the cooperative sector decent and result-oriented.

Likewise, the PM directed the regulatory bodies to regulate and control the fiscal anomalies seen in the cooperative sector if the latter were involved in such acts. 

The Congress started on Thursday and will continue till April 8.

It is said that 11 national and international working papers would be presented in the Congress that is attended by some 1,000 participants from 70 districts across the country.  (RSS)