In a strong push for accountability and reform, Nagaland’s Minister for Cooperation, Jacob Zhimomi, has declared that cooperative societies in the state must demonstrate performance or face deregistration. Speaking at an event marking International Cooperative Day in Kohima, the minister emphasized the need for a results-driven approach to revitalize the sector.
Zhimomi underscored that the cooperative movement must evolve into a key economic pillar for Nagaland, shedding dependency and embracing productivity. “We don’t want quantity, we want quality,” he asserted, noting that many societies fail due to lack of vision, poor business acumen, and unrealistic expectations from the government.
He called for: Tailor-made cooperative models suited to Nagaland’s unique socio-economic landscape
Performance-linked support, warning that non-functional cooperatives would be deregistered
The minister also appealed to the Centre for more flexible funding mechanisms through institutions like the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), citing the need for dynamic support structures.
Addressing youth aspirations, Zhimomi remarked, “Our youngsters want to be millionaires overnight and blame the government when they fail. Without consistency, hard work, and humility, no business or movement can survive.” He encouraged citizens to treat land as capital and leverage central schemes to build cooperatives in farming, dairy, and food supply chains.
Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Akangjongshi, revealed that out of 8,028 registered cooperatives, 5,862 are currently non-functional, and around 3,000 are slated for deregistration by October.
Zhimomi concluded with a call for grassroots transformation: “Development cannot be imported. It must begin from our homes, our villages, our habits. Let’s not expect 100% from the government—let us first invest ₹5 ourselves.”
The minister’s remarks signal a decisive shift toward performance-based governance in Nagaland’s cooperative sector, aiming to align it with broader national development goals.
