Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Goa Regional Office of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) marked its 44th Foundation Day with a grand celebration on July 11, 2025, at the Head Office of the Goa State Cooperative Bank (Goa StCB) in Patto, Panaji. The event brought together a distinguished gathering of dignitaries, banking professionals, academicians, and cooperative sector stakeholders to reflect on NABARD’s journey and its vital role in rural development.
Presiding over the event as Chief Guest was Dr. Vasant Jugale, an eminent economist and cooperative sector expert, who delivered an inspiring keynote address. He highlighted the importance of cooperatives as a balanced and inclusive model of development and introduced the concept of “Coopreneurs” — entrepreneurial individuals working within cooperative frameworks. Dr. Jugale commended NABARD’s leadership in supporting rural credit institutions like PACS, SHGs, and FPOs, and urged for continued innovation to keep cooperatives relevant in a rapidly changing economy.
Shri Prabhakar Jha, Regional Director of the Reserve Bank of India, Panaji, emphasized the close historical and operational ties between RBI and NABARD. He praised NABARD’s regulatory and developmental contributions to cooperative and regional rural banks, particularly in promoting financial inclusion and institutional strengthening.
Shri Santosh Kenkre, Chairman of the Committee of Administrators, Goa StCB, acknowledged NABARD’s proactive support in the transformation of Goa’s cooperative banking sector. He noted the impact of NABARD’s initiatives under the Cooperative Development Fund (CDF) and Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) in digitization, modernization, and capacity-building among cooperatives in Goa.
The event also saw the felicitation of three outstanding Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (mPACS) — Sattari Taluka Farmers Service Coop. Soc. Ltd., Shri Krishna Vividh Karyakari Sahakari Seva Soc. Ltd., and Shri Mahalaxmi Vividh Karyakari Sahakari Seva Soc. Ltd. — for their excellence in governance, credit delivery, and member services. The Goa State Cooperative Bank was also recognized for its remarkable turnaround, attributed to prudent financial management and NABARD’s consistent support.
Adding to the celebration were stalls exhibiting rural products and crafts by Kunbi Handloom & Handicrafts, the Goa State Biodiversity Board’s Govan initiative, and the Tiswadi Farmers Producers Company, showcasing NABARD’s commitment to promoting grassroots entrepreneurship.
The event concluded with a collective pledge by all stakeholders to continue working towards a stronger, inclusive, and sustainable rural banking and development ecosystem in Goa. The celebrations stood as a reaffirmation of NABARD’s unwavering dedication to transforming rural India.
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