NEW DELHI, June 22, 2025 — At a workshop titled “Cooperative Filmmaking: Present Status, Prospects, and Challenges”, held on June 18, Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President of the International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific [ICA-AP], underscored the urgent need for cooperatives in India to embrace modern visual media to engage the youth.
Organised by the National Film and Fine Arts Cooperative [NAFFAC] in collaboration with the National Cooperative Union of India [NCUI], the workshop brought together leaders, filmmakers, and cooperative professionals to discuss the role of visual storytelling in expanding the cooperative movement.
Dr. Yadav, also a cooperative official in India, emphasised the power of short films, reels, and videos in telling compelling grassroots stories that resonate with youth. He urged cooperative organisations to actively support NAFFAC in strengthening communication strategies, especially at a time when the government is prioritizing cooperative development.
“Cooperative success stories must reach even the remotest villages,” said Yadav. “Films and media are powerful tools for awareness and education.”
He commended NAFFAC for organising the event during the International Year of Cooperatives and called for the production of solution-oriented cooperative films.
Minu Shukla Pathak, Secretary of the National Council for Cooperative Training [NCCT], highlighted the increasing relevance of visual media in cooperative promotion and noted that NCCT has exceeded its training targets.
Vinay Kumar, Managing Director of NAFFAC, shared several new initiatives, including: The launch of a cooperative-themed YouTube channel in collaboration with Unati Cooperative; a national short film competition for school students; upcoming training programs on social media and digital communication.
Speakers across the sessions reinforced the educational and social impact of visual storytelling. Dr. Manoj, Director General of the Laxman Rao Inamdar Academy, stressed the educational power of documentaries. V.K. Chauhan from the National Federation of Labour Cooperatives highlighted the role of film in bringing attention to labour issues.
Santosh Shukla of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative [IFFCO] praised NAFFAC’s potential to amplify government efforts in modernising Primary Agricultural Credit Societies [PACS].
Avijit Ghosh, Associate Editor at The Times of India, delivered the keynote address, tracing the cinematic history of Indian cooperatives. He cited Manthan, the landmark 1976 film crowdfunded by 50,000 farmers, as an example of impactful storytelling rooted in cooperative values.
Filmmaker Agastya Anand and media consultant Ravi Kant Dwivedi proposed the creation of a cooperative film institute and emphasised the need for broader content dissemination.
Ayush Jain, an IRMA graduate, advocated for storytelling that reflects the real-life experiences of young people.
The hybrid-format event saw participation from cooperative leaders, filmmakers, and media professionals nationwide. NAFFAC Chairman Ranjit Singh joined virtually and applauded the insightful deliberations. The workshop was moderated by NAFFAC Advisor Sanjay Verma.
https://thecooperator.news/first-youth-cooperative-research-conference-held-in-india/
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