Press Release
Press Release from Sikkim State Cooperative Union (SICUN)
Information & Public Relations Department
New Delhi, November 06: Dr Mangal Jit Rai, Chairman of the Sikkim State Cooperative Union (SICUN) and Chief Coordinator of the North East States Cooperative Unions’ Forum (NESCUF) called upon the Hon’ble Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah in Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan, New Delhi yesterday evening.
During the meeting, Dr Rai apprised the Hon’ble Minister of the ongoing progress and notable achievements of the cooperative movement in Sikkim under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri PS Tamang (Golay), whose guidance has played a vital role in strengthening cooperative education, entrepreneurship and institutional capacity building across the state. He also highlighted the involvement and continued support of the Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development and Cooperation, Government of Sikkim, Shri Arun Upreti and the Secretary cum PRCS, Ms Jabi Thapa in advancing the cooperative movement in Sikkim.
Dr Rai further emphasised how the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Union Home Minister’s “Sahakar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity Through Cooperation) has been effectively implemented in Sikkim through community based and inclusive cooperative development models that foster self-reliance and sustainable growth at the grassroots level.
Referring to recent developments, Dr Rai briefed the Hon’ble Minister on the successful conduct of the 1st North East States Cooperative Unions’ Forum (NESCUF) held recently in Sikkim. The forum brought together cooperative leaders and representatives from all eight North Eastern states Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim on a common platform to deliberate on cooperative development, policy coordination and inter state collaboration.
Dr Rai presented a detailed report on the NESCUF proceedings, outlining the forum’s key resolutions aimed at strengthening regional cooperation through shared training, resource pooling and joint initiatives in cooperative education, governance and marketing.
Furthermore, Dr Rai submitted a formal proposal for the establishment of a North East Cooperative Excellence Training Centre (NECTC) in Sikkim. He explained that the proposed NECTC would function as a Centre of Excellence dedicated to cooperative leadership development, digital governance, value addition, financial management and entrepreneurship training for the North Eastern region. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the proposed Centre was also presented, highlighting its alignment with the Ministry of Cooperation’s vision and the Viksit Bharat @2047 national development agenda.
Dr Rai extended an official invitation to Shri Amit Shah to grace the upcoming Rashtriya Sahkari Sammelan and Maila Samvad as the Chief Guest. The national event, organised by SICUN with financial support from the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India in collaboration with the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI) is scheduled to be held in the second week of December 2025 in Gangtok, Sikkim. The final date will be confirmed by the Hon’ble Minister’s office in due course. The programme, originally slated for 26th October 2025 was rescheduled to coincide with the Hon’ble Minister’s availability.
The Hon’ble Union Minister graciously accepted the invitation and expressed his keen interest in attending the forthcoming national cooperative event.
Commending the progress of the cooperative sector in the region, Shri Amit Shah praised Dr. Mangal Jit Rai and his team for their unwavering dedication and visionary leadership in strengthening and revitalising the cooperative movement in Sikkim and the North Eastern region. He also lauded the efforts of the Sikkim State Cooperative Union (SICUN) and the North East States Cooperative Unions’ Forum (NESCUF) for their proactive initiatives in aligning regional cooperative activities with the national cooperative development agenda envisioned by the Ministry of Cooperation.
During the meeting, Dr Rai apprised the Hon’ble Minister of the ongoing progress and notable achievements of the cooperative movement in Sikkim under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri PS Tamang (Golay), whose guidance has played a vital role in strengthening cooperative education, entrepreneurship and institutional capacity building across the state. He also highlighted the involvement and continued support of the Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development and Cooperation, Government of Sikkim, Shri Arun Upreti and the Secretary cum PRCS, Ms Jabi Thapa in advancing the cooperative movement in Sikkim.
Dr Rai further emphasised how the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Union Home Minister’s “Sahakar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity Through Cooperation) has been effectively implemented in Sikkim through community based and inclusive cooperative development models that foster self-reliance and sustainable growth at the grassroots level.
Referring to recent developments, Dr Rai briefed the Hon’ble Minister on the successful conduct of the 1st North East States Cooperative Unions’ Forum (NESCUF) held recently in Sikkim. The forum brought together cooperative leaders and representatives from all eight North Eastern states Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim on a common platform to deliberate on cooperative development, policy coordination and inter state collaboration.
Dr Rai presented a detailed report on the NESCUF proceedings, outlining the forum’s key resolutions aimed at strengthening regional cooperation through shared training, resource pooling and joint initiatives in cooperative education, governance and marketing.
Furthermore, Dr Rai submitted a formal proposal for the establishment of a North East Cooperative Excellence Training Centre (NECTC) in Sikkim. He explained that the proposed NECTC would function as a Centre of Excellence dedicated to cooperative leadership development, digital governance, value addition, financial management and entrepreneurship training for the North Eastern region. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the proposed Centre was also presented, highlighting its alignment with the Ministry of Cooperation’s vision and the Viksit Bharat @2047 national development agenda.
Dr Rai extended an official invitation to Shri Amit Shah to grace the upcoming Rashtriya Sahkari Sammelan and Maila Samvad as the Chief Guest. The national event, organised by SICUN with financial support from the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India in collaboration with the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI) is scheduled to be held in the second week of December 2025 in Gangtok, Sikkim. The final date will be confirmed by the Hon’ble Minister’s office in due course. The programme, originally slated for 26th October 2025 was rescheduled to coincide with the Hon’ble Minister’s availability.
The Hon’ble Union Minister graciously accepted the invitation and expressed his keen interest in attending the forthcoming national cooperative event.
Commending the progress of the cooperative sector in the region, Shri Amit Shah praised Dr. Mangal Jit Rai and his team for their unwavering dedication and visionary leadership in strengthening and revitalising the cooperative movement in Sikkim and the North Eastern region. He also lauded the efforts of the Sikkim State Cooperative Union (SICUN) and the North East States Cooperative Unions’ Forum (NESCUF) for their proactive initiatives in aligning regional cooperative activities with the national cooperative development agenda envisioned by the Ministry of Cooperation.