Mysuru:  University of Mysore in association with Karnataka State Souhardha Federal Co-operative Ltd. (KSSFCL) had organised an international seminar on ‘Co-operatives and Sustainable Development’ at Vijnana Bhavan in Manasagangothri here this morning.

About 70 delegates from India and abroad participated in the seminar featuring paper presentation and technical interaction.

Inaugurating the programme, UoM Vice-Chancellor Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar said that the seminar was conceived by Third Sector Resource Research Centre with presentations from globally acclaimed scholars and leaders of co-operative movement. He hoped that the seminar would be invaluable for researchers to learn a lot.

Continuing, Prof. Hemantha Kumar opined that sustainable development has been on the forefront of both academic and policy discussions for quite sometime now.

He said that this is one area where both scientists and Social Scientists agree and share similar views. He pointed out that sustainable development and inclusive development are major thrust areas especially in developing countries.

He stressed the need to preserve resources, tax the earth least and leave a liable earth for the next generation. He recalled that groups like Amul, IFFCO and CAMPCO are examples of potential co-operative sector.

Prof. Morris Altman of University of New Castle, Australia, delivered the plenary presentation. Prof. Anthony Jensen of Australia, Prof. Akira Kurimoto of Japan, Robby Tulus of Canada and Balu Iyer of International Co-operative Alliance were the guests of honour.