Dec 11: Shiv Nadar University Delhi-NCR, an Institution of Eminence, brought together experts, practitioners and students for a conference on Cooperatives, Development and Higher Education at New Delhi’s India Habitat Centre. The day-long programme explored the symbiotic linkages between institutions of higher education, co-operatives, NGOs and Foundations in bringing about transformative socio-economic change. The conference, aligned with the United Nations’ celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives, featured Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Co-operatives, Government of India, as the Chief Guest. Among the dignitaries who attended the event included Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, Chief Executive, National Cooperative Union of India and Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board, Dr. Vivek Kunj, of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and several others.
Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Co-operatives, Government of India, said, “Higher education institutions need to build ties with cooperatives and provide them lab-to-field facilities. Educational institutes can partner with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive, integrated cooperative infrastructure and bring a seamless end-to-end ecosystem where all of us are partners in the growth of rural India” ”
Speaking at the event, Professor Ananya Mukherjee, Vice-Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, said;
“This conference reflects our belief that higher education plays a vital role in enabling inclusive and sustainable development, and our aspirations of Viksit Bharat. I am delighted that we had academics, practitioners, and leaders joined us from all across the country. This conference makes a perfect opportunity for us to explore new initiatives, and I have no doubt that we will find new ways of collaborating across different stakeholders.”
Many of the speakers emphasised the transformative role played by women in India’s cooperative sector, one of the largest in the world. The event reinforced the university’s position as an active convenor of dialogue between the government, academia and the world of practice.
