co-operation notes Module 4

🔽PUBLICITY AND PROPAGANDA🔽

🔽CO OPERATIVE JOURNAL

Publicity and propaganda wings in state cooperative unions use dedicated journals and monthly magazines to spread cooperative ideals, educate members, and share sectoral news

Cooperative journals are academic and professional publications that focus on the research, management, and activities of cooperative organizations.

Key Cooperative Journals

Kerala Cooperative Journal:

 An Anglo-Malayalam monthly published by the State Co-operative Union Kerala to promote cooperative activities.

Published by the State Co-operative Union, this flagship journal focuses on cooperative activities, updates, legal frameworks, and the socio-economic impact of cooperatives across Kerala's various sectors.

The Cooperator: 

An illustrated monthly distributed by the National Cooperative Union of India covering national and international cooperative views.

Cooperative Perspective Journal: 

A publication by the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) addressing socio-economic development and contemporary challenges in the sector

Academic & Research Journals:

 Various universities and research centers in Kerala—such as the ACSTI (Credit and Cooperative Training Institute)—regularly publish research papers, field-based analytical studies, and reports concerning the cooperative movement, worker co-ops, and rural credit societies.

🔽COOPERATIVE WEEK

In India, the All India Cooperative Week is celebrated every year from November 14 to November 20,

November 14-20 annually (commencing on the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru).

Raising public awareness about the cooperative movement, highlighting sector achievements, and promoting self-reliance

Local bodies and state unions-such as the State Co-operative Union Kerala-organize public meetings, flag hoisting, seminars, cultural processions, and student competitions.

Key Details of Cooperative Week

Traditional Annual Dates

: November 14–20 (commencing on the birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru).

• Main Organizer: 

National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), alongside state cooperative unions (such as in Kerala).

• Core Objectives: 

Propagating cooperative ideology, hosting seminars, organizing workshops, and driving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and rural development.

• Activities: 

Flag hoisting, public meetings,, farmers' interactions, and educational competitions 

🔽CO OPERATIVE FLAG

The international cooperative flag is a rainbow flag designed by French economist Charles Gide and adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) in 1925. It features seven horizontal stripes symbolizing unity in diversity, light, and progress, with red on top and violet at the bottom.

In 2001, the ICA replaced it with a new white logo flag featuring a multi-colored rainbow arc and doves.

🔽CAPE

The Co-operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE) is an autonomous educational society established by the Co-operation Department of the Government of Kerala.

CAPE in co-operation refers to the Co-operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE), an autonomous society promoted by the Co-operation Department of the Government of Kerala, India.

Established in 1999 under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act of 1955, CAPE aims to set up professional educational and training institutions in fields like engineering, management, and health sciences.

Governance

• Chairman: The Chief Minister of Kerala serves as the ex-officio chairman.

• Vice Chairman: The Minister for Co-operation serves as the ex-officio vice chairman and head of the board of governors.

Key Institutions Under CAPE

• Engineering Colleges (9): Includes colleges located in Muttathara (Thiruvananthapuram), Perumon and Pathanapuram (Kollam), Aranmula (Pathanamthitta), Punnapra/Alappuzha, Kidangoor (Kottayam), Vadakara (Kozhikode), Thalassery (Kannur), and Trikaripur (Kasaragod). Most of these engineering institutions are affiliated with APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University.

• Management & Training: Operates the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) in Punnapra and the Kerala Institute of Making the Best (KIMB).

• Healthcare: Previously established the Co-operative Medical College in Kochi (later taken over by the state government) alongside nursing and hospital facilities

Core Functions & Objectives

• Establish Educational Institutions: Set up and run colleges and training centers in engineering, management, and other professional or higher education fields.

• Provide Education and Training: Offer high-standard instruction and skill-building programs for students.

• Promote Research and Development: Support research, consultancy, and technical development activities matching international standards.

• Manage Facilities: Oversee affiliated institutions, hospitals, and training units established under the society.

ACSTI

The Agricultural Co-operative Staff Training Institute (ACSTI) in Kerala functions under the auspices of the cooperation sector to train personnel and directors across the state's cooperative credit network

Overview and Role

• Establishment: Set up in 1992 by the Kerala State Co-operative Bank and granted autonomous status in 2018.

• Location: Manvila, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• Core Objective: Imparts professional training and capacity-building programs for the three-tier cooperative credit structure (Kerala State Co-operative Bank, District Co-operative Banks, and Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies).

• Accreditation: Accredited by NABARD’s Centre for Professional Excellence in Cooperatives (C-PEC) Lucknow

• Areas of Focus: Financial and investment management, good governance, human resource development (HRD), IT and computer operations, banking operations, and loaning operations.

• Research & Advisory: Acts as a resource and documentation center, conducting field-based studies, interpreting RBI and NABARD circulars, and performing SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Challenges) analyses for cooperatives

1)The Agricultural Co-operative Staff Training Institute (ACSTI) was establishedby the Kerala State Co-operative Bank in the year 1992

.2)It envisages conducting training for the three tier cooperative structure.

3) Trainings are given to personnel and directors of the entire Co-operative shortterm Credit Structure comprising State Co-operative Bank, District Co-operativeBanks, Urban Co-operative Banks and Service Co-operative Banks.

4)The core areas of training include Organisation Development, FinanceManagement, Development Action Plan, Financing Farm and Non-Farm Sector,Micro Finance, Project Finance and Human Resource Developmen

.5)The Institute has been accorded autonomous status by the Government of Kerala.The autonomous status was formally declared by the Honorable Chief Minister ofKerala on 30th November 2018.

6) The Institute is registered under Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific andCharitable Societies Act 1955.7) The governance structure of the Institute consists of General Council, ExecutiveCommittee and Training Advisory Committee.

8)The General Council is headed by the Honourable Minister for Co-operationinvolving all stakeholders such as NABARD, Registrar of Co-operative Societies,Director of Co-operative Audit, Kerala State Co-operative Bank (KSCB), DistrictCo-operative Banks (DCBs), Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, Academiciansand Training Institutes

.9)The Executive Committee is headed by the Secretary, Co-operation comprisingof NABARD, RCS, Managing Director KSCB, and Director CAPE.

KERALA INSTITUTE OF CO-OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

The Kerala Institute of Co-operative Management (KICMA) is a professional management institute located near Neyyar Dam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Overview & Governance

• Established: 2008–2009

• Governing Body: State Co-operative Union (SCU) of Kerala under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act 1969

Affiliation & Approval: Affiliated with the University of Kerala and approved by the AICTE

1) KICMA is a Professional Management Institute governed by State Co-operativeUnion (SCU) which is a Statutory Body established by State Government underthe provisions of 'Kerala Co-operative Societies Act 1969.

2) KICMA is owned, managed and controlled by SCU, the administration ofKICMA is done by the well established administrative machinery of SCU.

3) The SCU is established by the Government of Kerala, as per section 89 ofKerala Co-operative Societies Act 1969 in 1970.

4)The main focus of SCU is to provide Co-operative Education & Training, assist.co-operative organisation in its growth and to carry out co-operative propaganda

.5) As KICMA is owned, managed and controlled by SCU, the administration ofKICMA too is done by the well established administrative machinery of SCU

.6) For the smooth functioning of KICMA, powers are delegated to the Directorand administrative machinery is separately created in the institute under theguidance and control of Director.

7) An advisory committee has been constituted for KICMA with well knownacademicians, industrialists, top level executives of public sector undertakings, etc.to advise the State Co-operative Union on policies and programmes to be adoptedfor the better functioning of the Institute.

8) The chairman of the State Co-operative Union is also the chairman of thisadvisory committee.

9)The training programmes are:• General Management skills;• Financial Management;• Computer Programmes;• Human Resources Management;