ICAAP and NCDC Jointly Release a Handbook on Global Good Practices for Cooperatives

What is the news?

International Co-Operative Alliance Asia And Pacific (ICAAP) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) have released a policy recommendation handbook on SAHAKAR PRAGYA Good Practices for Cooperatives.

What is the purpose of the Handbook on Global Good Practices for Cooperatives?

The Handbook is a compendium of guidelines, resources, methodologies, key learning, case studies of the best performing cooperatives in India and abroad and the outcome and impact.

Cooperative Sector in India

India has more than 8 lakh registered cooperative societies, especially in the agricultural and agri-allied sector, banking and housing sectors.

The cooperative movement in the country has regained focus after the Union Government created the Ministry of Cooperation to provide a separate administrative legal and policy framework for streamlining the cooperatives.

The Govt is also in the process of framing a new cooperative policy and proposes to work in tandem with states to strengthen the cooperative movement.

What is the International Co-Operative Alliance?

International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) was founded in 1895. It is an independent, non-governmental association that unites, represents and serves the co-operatives worldwide.

ICA is not a United Nations Organization. However, the ICA enjoys General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN/ECOSOC).

To implement its activities, ICA has four Regional Offices (Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe) and eight Global Sectoral Organizations (agriculture, banking, retail, fisheries, health, housing, insurance, and industry & services). 

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Source: This post is based on the article ‘ICAAP and NCDC Jointly Release a Handbook on Global Good Practices for Cooperatives’ published in PIB on 19th January 2022.