In a breakthrough for the North East’s cooperative sector and cooperative-led development, the first meeting of the North East States Cooperative Unions’ Forum (NESCUF) was convened at the Sikkim State Cooperative Union (SICUN) campus in Assam Lingzey. The forum brought together delegates from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim under the theme “Together We Rise: Strengthening the Cooperative Future of the North East.”
Platform for Regional Synergy and Policy Dialogue
The NESCUF serves as a unified platform for all North Eastern State Cooperative Unions to deliberate on policies, share best practices, and explore collaborative initiatives to strengthen the cooperative ecosystem across the region. The meet aimed to promote collective self-reliance, encourage innovation, and identify opportunities for cross-border cooperation in priority sectors such as agriculture, dairy, handloom, and women-led cooperatives.
Chairman of SICUN, Dr. Mangal Jit Rai, underlined that the initiative represents a step toward building stronger grassroots institutions. “Our focus is on empowering cooperatives through capacity building, leadership training, and youth participation,” he stated.
He also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister of Sikkim for his continued support and was unanimously appointed as the Chief Coordinator of NESCUF until the next meeting.
Driving Cooperative Transformation through Technology and Collaboration
Registrar of Cooperation Department, Mr. K.P. Sharma, emphasized the importance of collective action to transform the rural economy. He urged stakeholders to use NESCUF as a forum for empowering communities, strengthening institutions, and achieving inclusive socio-economic progress.
Advisor and Former Secretary of NCCT, Dr. Mohan Kumar Mishra, presented NESCUF’s broader vision aligned with the national development goals of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” and “Viksit Bharat 2047.” He encouraged cooperatives to embrace digital platforms and social media as tools for reform, transparency, and outreach.
Dr. Mishra also outlined strategies to overcome challenges such as infrastructure gaps, limited market access, and financial constraints, while highlighting the region’s vast potential in organic farming, local enterprise, and cooperative entrepreneurship.
SICUN Launches Organic Branding Initiative
Working towards market empowerment, SICUN’s Business and Marketing Division announced a new initiative focused on branding and promoting organic products from local cooperatives. This initiative aims to provide grassroots producers with better market linkages, brand visibility, and fair pricing, reinforcing Sikkim’s leadership in sustainable and cooperative-driven growth.
Charting a Collective Roadmap for the North East
Delegates from all eight states shared insights on their respective cooperative landscapes, challenges, and innovations. The open house discussion concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen inter-state cooperation, enhance digital capacity, and align regional efforts with the national cooperative vision.
With NESCUF emerging as a collaborative platform for the North East, the forum’s first meeting laid the foundation for a shared roadmap of growth, inclusivity, and self-reliance through the cooperative model.
