Mangalore, Nov. 15 : As part of the 72nd All India Cooperative Week – 2025, the state-level Cooperative Week program will be held in Mangaluru on November 16, said Dr. M.N. Rajendra Kumar, President of Karnataka State Cooperative Marketing Federation and SCDCC Bank.
A state-level program with the theme "Strengthening Rural Development through Cooperatives" has been organized at 10 am on November 16 at the Karavali Utsav Maidan in Mangaluru.
Karnataka State Cooperative Union, Bangalore, Karnataka State Cooperative Market Union, Bangalore, Dakshina Kannada District Central Cooperative Bank, Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Cooperative Union, Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers Union, Mangalore, Navodaya Gram Vikas Charitable Trust, Mangalore, all agricultural cooperatives, town cooperative banks, all types of cooperatives and the Cooperative Department will participate in this state level program.
"Sahakara Manikya Award":
With the aim of recognizing the best cooperatives functioning in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, it has been decided to give "Sahakara Manikya Award" at the state level function of All India Cooperative Week from 2024. This time too, the selected cooperatives that have made all-round progress in 2025 will be honored with "Sahakara Manikya Award" with a 5 gram gold medal. Rs.10,000/- cash and a citation.
Awards for Best Cooperative Societies:
In this state-level program, awards will be given to the best performing agricultural cooperative societies, women's cooperative societies, fisheries cooperative societies, credit societies and friendly cooperative societies in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
Awards for Best Self-Help Groups:
Navodaya Self-Help Groups, which have made their mark in the field of cooperation, are working as an economic force for the poor. There are more than 35,000 Navodaya Self-Help Groups in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district and the best self-help groups will be awarded during the celebration of Cooperative Week.
Inauguration by dignitaries:
The state-level Cooperative Week function will be inaugurated by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader Farid. The “Sahakara Manikya Award” will be presented by Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka and Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada District, and the “Best Cooperative Societies Award” will be presented by Lakshmi Hebbal, Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of Karnataka and Minister in-charge of Udupi District.
The best cooperative societies were presented by the MLAs and the Karnataka State Cooperative Federation.
The awards for the best self-help groups will be presented by the Hon’ble MLA and President of Karnataka State Cooperative Federation, Bangalore, G.T. Deve Gowda, while the exhibition stalls will be inaugurated by Hon’ble MLA and former Cooperative Minister, Government of Karnataka, K.N. Rajanna. The flag hoisting ceremony of the Cooperative Week will be performed by Captain Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament from Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency. The function will be presided over by Dr. M.N. Rajendra Kumar will preside.
The chief guests will be Karnataka Legislative Council member Manjunath Bhandari, Mangalore South MLA Vedavyas D. Kamath, Mangalore North MLA Dr. Bharat Shetty Y. MLA and Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Cooperative Fish Market Mahamandal N., Mangalore President Yash Pal Suvarna, Karnataka Legislative Council members Ivan D. Soja and Kishore Kumar Bottyadi.
NABARD Chief General Manager, Bangalore Dr. Surendra Babu and Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation President, Mangalore Raviraj Hegde will participate as guests of honour.
Among the special invitees are Secretary to the Government of Karnataka S.B. Shettannavar, Registrar of Karnataka State Cooperative Societies Shri T.H.M. Kumar, D.K. District Deputy Commissioner Darshan H.V. and Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Reddy will participate. On this occasion, the launch of Nandini new products by the Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers' Union will be held in the presence of dignitaries, he said.