First youth cooperative research conference held in India
The event commenced with a keynote address by Dr. Yashwant Dongre, Vice-Chancellor of Chanakya University and Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Research Committee of the International Cooperative Alliance [ICA]
NEW DELHI, March 28, 2025 – – The Public Relations and Publications Division of the National Cooperative Union of India [NCUI] recently organised the First Cooperative Youth Research Conference to commemorate the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 [IYC 2025].
The conference, themed “Cooperatives: Key for Achieving SDGs,” was sponsored by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited [IFFCO],National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India [NCCF], Souharda Federation, Unnati, and Power Gilt. Out of 90 abstracts submitted by researchers under the age of 40, 20 were selected for presentation.
The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, Chief Executive of NCUI, in the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Prof. C. Pitchai [Gandhigram Rural Institute, Tamil Nadu], Dr. Mallika Kumar [Associate Professor, SRCC], and Ved Prakash [Executive Director, NCUI].
Others present at the function were Rajeev Sharma [Executive Director, NCUI], Ritesh Dey [Executive Director, NCUI], Dr. V.K. Dubey [Advisor, NCUI], Sanjay Verma [Advisor, NCUI & Conference Chair], and Dr. Shrija Sinha [Research Officer & Conference Secretary].
Mahajan encouraged young researchers to focus on the practical applications of their findings.
Dr. Pitchai praised the uniqueness of the event in fostering young cooperative researchers, while Dr. Mallika Kumar stressed the importance of appointing “Youth Ambassadors of Cooperatives” in educational institutions to enhance awareness during IYC 2025.
The event commenced with a keynote address by Dr. Yashwant Dongre, Vice-Chancellor of Chanakya University and Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Research Committee of the International Cooperative Alliance [ICA].
Dr. Dongre highlighted emerging research areas within the cooperative sector and emphasized the role of cooperatives in advancing sustainable development. He urged researchers to produce studies with global relevance in addressing local challenges.
A panel discussion on “Cooperatives, Youth, and the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]” followed, featuring Prof. C. Pitchai, Dr. Mallika Kumar, and Sanjay Verma as panelists, moderated by Dr. Shrija Sinha. The discussion explored how cooperatives can drive youth engagement and contribute to the SDGs.
The conference featured four technical sessions with 16 research presentations covering diverse topics. Notable case studies included SEWA’s Srujan Cooperative, the VYBECOS Ponnurunni Model [an urban waste management cooperative], and AYCOOPS, a cooperative media initiative.
Other presentations examined the role of health cooperatives in advancing the SDGs, cooperatives’ contributions to climate change mitigation, their potential in India’s gig and platform economy, and the use of digital platforms and AI to enhance cooperative operations and sustainability.
During the valedictory function, Santosh Shukla, General Manager of IFFCO, served as the Chief Guest. He underscored the importance of youth engagement in IYC 2025 and praised NCUI’s Coop Connect initiative for popularizing the cooperative model among young people. Jyoti Saroop, Director of Unnati, also emphasised the need for youth to consider careers in the cooperative sector.
Participation certificates were distributed to all research scholars who presented papers at the conference, marking a successful conclusion to the event.
Source: Indian Cooperative
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
Views: 0
