3. Current Status

Article 35 (2) of the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2063 has a provision that "the state will adopt the policy of developing the economy in the country through the government, cooperatives and private sector". So far, there are about 27,000 initial cooperative organizations in the country, 66 district cooperative associations, 157 thematic 2. Past efforts in Nepal The development of the cooperative sector started after the establishment of the cooperative department in 2010. V.No. On 20th of Chaitra, 2013, Bakhan Loan Cooperative Society was formed as the first cooperative in Chitwan district. In Nepal In 2016, the Cooperative Act was issued for the first time. V.No. Until 2046, due to the lack of a favorable political environment, the cooperative sector could not develop as expected. After the restoration of democracy, the Cooperative Act, 2048 was promulgated in the background of the internationally accepted values ​​and principles of cooperatives, and spontaneously became an environment for the development and expansion of cooperative organizations across the country. In the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2063, there is also a constitutional arrangement to jointly mobilize the government, cooperatives and private sector for the overall economic development of the country. The Cooperative Act, 2048 and the Cooperative Regulations, 2049 are in force for the formation, operation and regulation of cooperative societies. Similarly, to support the development of the cooperative sector, the National Cooperative Development Board has been formed to play the role of policy support, study and research, promotion and coordination. In addition to this, the National Agricultural Policy, 2061 and the Agricultural Business Promotion Policy, 2063 have also emphasized the use and development of the cooperative system for the development of the agricultural sector. Despite all these efforts, the formulation of a national cooperative policy that specifies the direction for the development of the entire economic sector through cooperatives has not been possible. placeNo, it's over. More than 3.8 million Nepali citizens have joined the cooperative as members. Since the participation of women among the members of the cooperative is more than 40 percent, it can be easily assumed that the cooperative has contributed to the empowerment of women. The number of cooperative organizations operating with only women as members has reached more than 2500. The total share capital of cooperatives is Rs. 27 billion, savings deposits of Rs. 140 billion and investment of Rs. 134 billion has reached. Cooperatives account for 15 percent of the country's total financial transactions. More than 50,000 Nepali citizens have received direct employment and more than 500,000 indirect employment in cooperatives. It has been found that local residents have been able to benefit from cooperatives even in places and communities where the state and private sector have not reached. Although there is a majority in urban areas, cooperative organizations have expanded in all 75 districts of the country. 38 divisional cooperative offices have been established under the cooperative department for registration, monitoring, regulation and promotion of cooperative societies. To provide cooperative training to the officers and employees of cooperatives, one cooperative training center at the central level and one training center each in five development areas are functioning as divisional cooperative offices. In order to play an effective role in the development, expansion and promotion of the cooperative sector, the Government of Nepal has also established the Ministry of Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation on the 5th of June 2069. In order to make the operation and management of cooperative organizations effective, standards have been issued by the cooperative department and based on that, monitoring and regulation have been done, albeit to a limited extent. Various programs related to cooperatives have been formulated and implemented with the goal of making cooperatives an important means of economic, social and cultural development of the country by increasing savings mobilization and investment through cooperatives and advancing cooperatives with priority in poverty alleviation, job creation and rural development.