The ICA-AP Committee on Youth Co-operation has initiated pilot projects in Bhutan, India and Nepal to establish youth and youth-led co-operatives across the three countries. The theme of its 7th Annual Meeting – Financial Literacy for Youth Co-operation is also the topic of the proposed ICYC Project. Seminars were held in Kathmandu (7 December 2014), Thimpu (11 January 2015) and New Delhi (4 February 2015).
INDIA: New Delhi;
Mr. Balu Iyer addressing SRCC students at the seminar
The Pilot Activity in India was carried out by the students of the Shri ram College of Commerce (SRCC) under the guidance of Dr Mallika Kumar, Assistant Professor, SRCC on 4 February, 2015 in the Seminar Hall of the college. The seminar was chaired by Dr Sukesh Zamwar, chair of ICYC. Mr. Balu Iyer ICA-AP Regional Director delivered a special address on co-operative awareness and the benefits of working together as part of a co-operative, rather than for someone else’s enterprise. Heads of various societies of the SRCC such as societies on economics, commerce, theatre and literature shared their achievements and challenges as student groups functioning in the campus. Mr P. Santosh Kumar, secretary of ICYC gave a thematic presentation on the situation of youth-led and youth-based co-operatives in the Asia Pacific region and urged the students to partner in the proposed ICYC project. Dr Navin Anand, moderator of the Microfinance Community of the UNDP Solution Exchange shared his thoughts on co-operatives and areas of work in financial sector for youth. This was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Mrs. Savitri Singh, advisor – gender Programmes and Communications, International Co-operative Alliance for Asia and Pacific. The panel was comprised of Dr Dinesh, chief executive, National Co-operative Union of India; Dr Navin Anand and Dr Sukesh Zamwar. Participants committed to forming working groups at the SRCC to further the work areas of the proposed project.
Based on the key recommendations of the pilot activities in Nepal, Bhutan and India, the Youth Project of the International Co-operative Alliance for Asia and Pacific will continue to develop new initiatives related to establishing thematic youth co-operatives and tailored to local interests.
