IDD, NABARD, HO & BIRD, Lucknow

“National Conference of Cooperative Banks – Regaining Leadership in Agricultural

Finance” – 08 & 09 February 2016 at BIRD, Lucknow

“National Conference of Cooperative Banks – Regaining Leadership in Agricultural

Finance” was organized by IDD, NABARD HO and was conducted at BIRD, Lucknow on

8-9 February 2016. Delegates to the Conference included Chairmen and CEOs of StCBs,

Principal Secretary/RCS, Cooperation, senior officers from Government of India, RBI,

NABARD, Chairman and MD, NAFSCOB and other national level Institutions.

The Conference was graced by Shri R. Gandhi, Deputy Governor, RBI, Dr. H. K.

Bhanwala, Chairman, NABARD. Shri Dileepbhai Sanghani, Chairman, NAFSCOB, Dr.

Ashish Kumar Bhutani, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,

Shri N. S. Viswanathan, ED, RBI and Ms. Suma Varma, Principal CGM, RBI, Smt. Nanda

Sameer Dave, CGM, RBI; Smt Supriya Pattnaik RD RBI Lucknow & Shri Ajay Kumar,

CGM RBI, Lucknow were other dignitaries present in the Conference.

Dr. D. V. Deshpande, Director, BIRD, welcomed the dignitaries.

Shri H.R. Dave, DMD explained objectives of the National Conference.

Dr. H. K. Bhanwala, Chairman, NABARD delivered the inaugural address and

emphasized on deliberating and evolving implementable action plan to enable the

Cooperatives to regain their leadership in agricultural finance.

Shri R. Gandhi, Deputy Governor, RBI in his key note address touched upon history of

Cooperatives and its uniqueness for having a mention in the Constitution of India, five

year plan documents of GoI and speeches of leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

reflecting upon the realization of its importance since long. He highlighted the need to

reposition rural cooperatives for capturing the minds of Gen-next. While answering the

questions from the audience, he very clearly indicated that once an organization is

functioning as ‘Bank’, it has to adhere to some minimum requirements–these

requirements are already relaxed for cooperative banks but once decided, can not be

relaxed further.

Shri Mahendra Jain, IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka Chaired a panel on

“Regulation, Supervision and Audit” also addressed the delegates about his thoughts on

the subject.

Shri N S Vishwanathan, ED RBI co-chaired a panel “Regulation, Supervision and Audit”

also addressed the delegates about his thoughts on the subject as well as delivered the

valedictory address.

Two publications viz.(1) ‘Analytical Review of Financial Performance of State Cooperative

Banks as on 31 March 2015’ by IDD NABARD, HO and (2) ‘Technical Manual for Training

of Cooperative Banks’ prepared by C-PEC, BIRD, Lucknow – were also released during

the Conference at the hands of Dr. H. K. Bhanwala, Chairman, NABARD and Shri R.

Gandhi, Deputy Governor, RBI respectively.

Sessions on Business Development, Revival of PACS, Technology Adoption by

Cooperative Banks, Corporate Governance and Management, Regulation, Supervision

and Audit were deliberated in the conference chaired by eminent Cooperators with

Panelists drawn from State Govt. and StCBs and subject matter specialists. Lead

presentations were made by CGMs, Shri D. N. Magar, Shri Subrata Gupta, Shri K. R.

Rao and Dr. D. V. Deshpande, Director, BIRD and Shri N. P. Mohapatra, GM, IDD.

Summing up of the Conference was done by Shri R. Amalorpavanathan, DMD and vote

of thanks was given by Shri D.N. Magar, CGM, IDD, HO.

Chairman NABARD also addressed press on 8 February 2016.

A few photographs of the Conference are appended below.

Address by Dr. HK Bhanwala, Chairman, NABARD

Address by Shri HR Dave, DMD, NABARD, HO

National Conference of Cooperative Banks in progress

Release of booklet on ‘Analytical Review of Financial Performance of State Cooperative Banks as

on 31 March 2015’

Shri A K Bhutani, IAS, Joint Secretary, GOI , Ministry of Agriculture &Farmers Welfare Addressing

Address by Ms. Suma Varma, Principal CGM, RBI

Address by Shri DN Magar, CGM, IDD, HO

Address by Dr. DV Deshpande, Director, BIRD, Lucknow

Presentation by Shri Subrata Gupta, CGM, DFIBT, HO

Address by Shri KR Rao, CGM, DoS, HO, Mumbai

Shri Mahendra Jain, IAS, Joint Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka interacting with participants

Shri R. Amalorpavanathan, DMD, NABARD addressing the participants

Chairman, NABARD interacting with participants

Shri R. Gandhi, Deputy Governor RBI, addressing the participants

Shri N. S. Viswanathan, ED, RBI interacting with participants

Shri R Gandhi, DG RBI & Dr H K Bhanwala Chairman NABARD Releasing ‘Technical Manual for

Training of Cooperative Banks’ prepared by C-PEC, BIRD, Lucknow

Address by Chairman, NABARD

A participant interacting in the Conference

Dr. HK Bhanwala, Chairman, NABARD interacting with Press & Media in Press Conference