Rumours about cooperatives are baseless: Minister Balram Acharya

KATHMANDU, JANUARY 6: Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, Balram Acharya, has dismissed the rumours surrounding cooperatives as baseless and false. Speaking at the 17th Annual General Assembly of the Nepal Agricultural Cooperative Central Federation Limited in Kathmandu on Monday, he emphasized the importance of cooperatives in uplifting people’s livelihoods, particularly in agriculture.

Minister Acharya challenged the notion that cooperatives are no longer needed, urging action to demonstrate their relevance and value. “There is a growing narrative that all cooperatives are the same and ineffective, with some even claiming they are unnecessary.

To counter this, we must prove that cooperatives are vital for grassroots engagement, agriculture-based initiatives, and improving people's living standards. Cooperatives mobilize savings, reinvest them, and create businesses. Therefore, it’s important to debunk the false rumours being spread about them,” he stated.

He also acknowledged that the government has fallen short of providing the expected level of support to cooperatives and other organizations. He stressed the need for self-initiative alongside government efforts. “Given the country’s economic condition, the support provided by the government to cooperatives and organizations has not met expectations or requirements. We cannot solely rely on government assistance; we must also take proactive measures from our own positions,” he added.

The minister further highlighted the limitations of outdated laws, stating that they fail to address current challenges and called for urgent legal reforms. Additionally, he urged the government to provide land to landless citizens for genuine habitation, ensuring their basic rights and livelihood.