Two-Day Cooperative Conclave Begins in East Siang to Strengthen Cooperatives in the state

PASIGHAT, Feb. 13, 2026: The two-day Cooperative Conclave (State-level Sahkarita Sammelan) on the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World – Sahkar se Samriddhi” began today at Pasighat in East Siang district, aiming to reinforce inter-departmental convergence and enhance the capacity of cooperative societies across the district.

The event was inaugurated by Chief Guest Gabriel D. Wangsu, Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Dairy Development, Fisheries, Food & Civil Supplies, Legal Metrology and Consumer Affairs, in the presence of Guest of Honour Ojing Tasing, Minister for Rural Development, Cooperation and Panchayati Raj; local MLA of 38th Pasighat East, Tapi Darang; Secretary (Cooperation, RD & PR), GoAP, Dr. Sonal Swaroop; ADC (HQ) Pebika Lego, among others.

In his address, Wangsu highlighted the pivotal role of cooperatives in fostering rural entrepreneurship, ensuring economic self-reliance and generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers, youth and women. Wangsu, along with Tasing, emphasised that coordinated action among departments is essential to maximise the benefits of government schemes at the grassroots level.

Officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry delivered focused presentations outlining key schemes, subsidies, financial assistance and technical support available to cooperatives.

An interactive panel discussion followed, addressing concerns related to scheme accessibility, funding mechanisms, infrastructure development and capacity building. The conclave is expected to deliberate further on actionable strategies over the next day to strengthen and modernise the cooperative movement in East Siang district.

A key highlight of the inaugural session was a presentation by Shri Apurba Mishra, representative of Amul, who elaborated on the successful business model of Amul. He explained how a strong cooperative structure, transparent governance, efficient procurement systems and value addition have enabled Amul to emerge as one of India’s most successful dairy brands. He encouraged local cooperatives to adopt similar principles of collective strength and professional management.

A representative from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) delivered an address on achieving success through cooperation. Stressing the importance of capacity building, financial literacy and institutional strengthening, the speaker highlighted how cooperative societies can leverage NABARD’s support for sustainable growth and long-term viability.

Further, the Managing Director of Arunachal Pradesh State Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd., Bittu Kri, presented insights on connecting cooperatives with the State Cooperative Bank (SCB) framework. He emphasised the role of financial inclusion, credit linkage and structured banking support in empowering cooperative societies to scale their operations and improve economic outcomes for members.

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