NABARD West Bengal Hosts State-Level Cooperative Conclave to Mark International Year of Cooperatives 2025….

GRS News India : kolkata, 18th November 2025. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), West Bengal Regional Office, organized the State-Level Cooperative Conclave at Hotel Taj Taal Kutir, Eco Park, New Town, Kolkata, in celebration of the United Nations–declared International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025.
The conclave brought together over 150 policymakers, cooperative leaders, and sector experts under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” The event highlighted success stories from West Bengal’s cooperative ecosystem, featured thematic deliberations, and saw the release of a Coffee Table Book showcasing cooperative achievements across the state.
Key dignitaries included Shri Pradip Kumar Mazumdar, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Cooperation & Panchayat and Rural Development, GoWB; Shri Niranjan Kumar, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, GoWB; Shri Santanu Das, Director, Corrective Audit, GoWB; and Shri P.K. Bhardwaj, Chief General Manager, NABARD WBRO.
Welcoming participants, Shri P.K. Bhardwaj reiterated NABARD’s commitment to empowering cooperatives through financial, technological, and capacity-building support, emphasizing digitization, innovation, and transparency as key drivers of rural prosperity.
As part of the celebration, five best-performing District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and several leading PACS were felicitated for excellence, especially in computerization and technology adoption.
Addressing the gathering, the Hon’ble Minister highlighted the crucial role of cooperatives in inclusive development and rural economic resilience. He commended NABARD’s contributions in credit support, infrastructure development, PACS computerization, and green-building initiatives. He also appreciated NABARD’s efforts in digitisation, rapid-audit systems, and transparency enhancement, which are strengthening public trust in cooperatives. The Minister emphasized the need for continuous training and sought expanded NABARD support for skill development, youth engagement, and capacity-building initiatives.
Shri Niranjan Kumar, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, GoWB, lauded the strengthened governance framework achieved through successful cooperative elections, ongoing training, PACS computerization, and rapid digital audits. He underscored NABARD’s sustained role in inclusive credit expansion and structural strengthening of MPACS in the run-up to International Year of Cooperatives 2025.
The conclave concluded with a unified call to accelerate digital transformation, enhance governance standards, and increase youth participation—aligning with the National Cooperation Policy 2025 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.