CNRI to oppose FICCI's move of privatisation

Tiruchirapalli, May 25 (UNI) The Confederation of NGOs in Rural India (CNRI) will oppose FICCI's move to privatise the agricultural market yards, run by the state agriculture marketing committees of respective districts and civic bodies administration, CNRI Chairman L V Saptarishi has said.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he said FICCI's move is not only anti-people, but it is ''anti-farmer and anti-rural development.'' If these marketing networks were privatised and given to MNCs the farmers and the people in the rural areas would suffer, he added.

The CNRI has proposed to set up 1,000 knowledge centres all over the country in collaboration with IGNOU.

Mr Saptarishi informed that CNRI will set up a country-wide network 'Sarva Jana Samaj' (SJS), involving people from all walks of life and communities. SJS was already established in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and efforts were on to establish it in the remaining states of the country.

''Our target is to enroll at least one to five lakh people under SJS in each and every state,'' he added.

He said CNRI would take up the farmers subsidy issue with Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath. A CNRI delegation had already met Mr Kamal Nath and told him that under any circumstances the Indian farmers' should not be affected by reducing the existing subsidies and import of foodgrains.

Earlier, speaking at the state-level seminar, organised by Tamil Nadu Board of Continuing Education (TNBCE), Mr Sapatarishi said CNRI was currently working on new ideas and innovative strategies for the women SHGs on value-added activities and education of rural youths.

Presenting the Dr Malcom Emerald awards to Mr Saptarishi and former IAS officer V Moorthy, Tamil Nadu Transport Minister K N Nehru lauded the services of TNBCE and the NGOs in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking on the occasion, TNBCE president Sevai K Govindaraju said TNBCE had completed 34 years of service, towards the goal of achieving a learning society.

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