National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI)

• The National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) stands as the premier organization representing the cooperative movement across India.
• Founded in 1929 as the All India Cooperative Institutes Association, NCUI later underwent reorganization as the Indian Cooperative Union through a merger with the Indian Provincial Cooperative Banks’ Association.
• Finally, in 1961, it assumed its present form as NCUI. Its primary mission is to amplify the voice of cooperation in India, fostering a unified and robust cooperative sector.

Objectives of NCUI

• The Union’s key objectives are to promote and develop the cooperative movement throughout India, providing essential support for cooperative education, guidance, and advocacy. The Union works to build and strengthen the cooperative sector and ensure that cooperative principles are upheld in all its activities.

• Core Functions of NCUI
• Policy Advocacy
  • Act as the representative body for the Indian Cooperative Movement, advocating for cooperative policies at national and international levels.
  • Provide a cooperative perspective on issues affecting the sector, supporting a unified stance on cooperative matters.
  • Cooperative Education and Training
  • Develop and organize training programs to popularize cooperative principles and practices.
  • Offer educational initiatives to equip members and leaders with cooperative knowledge and skills.
  • Research and Development
  • Conduct research on cooperative issues, formulate strategies for cooperative growth, and support the development of cooperative institutions.
  • Facilitate investigations and project formulation to address cooperative sector challenges.
  • Publications and Media
  • Produce and disseminate literature on cooperation, such as periodicals, journals, and audio-visual materials, to inform and educate the public.
  • Highlight cooperative achievements in various media, including print, TV, and film, to create a positive atmosphere for the cooperative movement.

Information and Resources

• Maintain a cooperative information bureau and library, serving as a repository of cooperative knowledge.
• Convene the National Cooperative Congress, along with seminars, meetings, and exhibitions to facilitate cooperative dialogue and showcase progress.
• National and International Representation
• Appoint delegates for participation in international and national conferences, ensuring India’s cooperative sector is represented globally.
• Foster international relations with organizations like the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), United Nations (UNO), FAO, ILO, UNDP, and UNIDO.
• Support to Cooperative Societies
• Assist member societies in addressing operational challenges and formulating development programs.
• Advocate for the democratic functioning of cooperatives, preserving their grassroots character.
• Consultancy and Marketing Support
• Provide consultancy services to cooperative organizations to promote best practices and operational efficiency.
• Serve as a nodal agency to support cooperative-to-cooperative international marketing initiatives for the benefit of Indian cooperatives.

Recognition and Honors

• Confer honors upon distinguished individuals who have made notable contributions to the cooperative movement.

Significance of NCUI

• The NCUI plays a vital role in strengthening and sustaining the cooperative movement in India by offering policy guidance, educational programs, research support, and international linkages.
• It not only supports the growth of cooperatives but also ensures they remain democratically managed and aligned with the values of equality, mutual aid, and community development.
• Through its comprehensive functions, NCUI contributes to the socioeconomic advancement of communities across India, promoting inclusive and sustainable development.

National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

• The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) was founded in 1963 through an Act of Parliament and operates as a statutory corporation under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. It plays a critical role in supporting cooperative institutions across various sectors, fostering agricultural growth and rural development through financing and project support.

Functions of NCDC

• Program Planning, Promotion, and Financing
  • Develops and funds programs related to production, processing, marketing, storage, export, and import of agricultural and select other notified commodities, such as fertilizers, insecticides, and agricultural machinery.
  • Supports the supply of consumer goods and the collection, processing, marketing, and storage of minor forest products.

• Income-Generating Activities
  • Encourages cooperatives to undertake additional income-generating activities, including poultry, dairy, fishery, sericulture, and handloom ventures, which benefit rural communities by creating diverse revenue streams.

• Expansion of Operational Scope
  • Recent amendments to the NCDC Act have broadened its area of operation to encompass rural industrial cooperatives and services aimed at rural welfare. This expansion includes projects related to water conservation, irrigation, micro-irrigation, agri-insurance, agro-credit, rural sanitation, and animal health.

• Financial Support to Cooperatives
  • Provides loans and grants to State Governments to fund primary and secondary cooperative societies, as well as direct funding for national-level societies and those with multi-state operations.
  • Offers direct funding for specific cooperative projects, provided they meet stipulated conditions, through its various assistance schemes.

• Significance of NCDC
• The NCDC plays a vital role in advancing the cooperative sector’s contributions to rural development by providing targeted financial and logistical support to projects that improve agricultural productivity and community welfare. It enables cooperative institutions to diversify their activities, sustain local economies, and enhance rural livelihoods through projects in agriculture, rural industry, and essential services.