IFFCO SADAN, C-1, DISTRICT CENTRE, SAKET PLACENEW DELHI - 110017

INDIAN FARMERS FERTILISER COOPERATIVE LIMITED

IFFCO SAHAKARITA RATNAAND

IFFCO SAHAKARITA BANDHU AWARDS IN COOPERATION

2009-10

Shri O.P. Agrawal, recipient of IFFCO "Sahakarita Bandhu Award" in Cooperation for the year 2009-10, is a dedicated cooperator, devoted environmentalist and a visionary leader from Chhattisgarh State. He has been associated with cooperative movement for more than 30 years. His efforts of empowering the backward classes and improving their livelihoods through farm forestry and agriculture development are commendable.

Born on November 17, 1948 in a family of businessman in Ambikapur, Sarguja, Shri Agrawal

developed keen interest to serve the Society in his student-life itself. He acquired degree in Arts from Ambikapur and completed his LLB from Bilaspur, but family business or professional career as an advocate could not avert him from pursuing the noble cause of community service.

In the year 1980 he used his own land to demonstrate techniques of land development, water conservation and soil rejuvenation. He united farmers and organized a Forestry Cooperative, he undertook plantation of about one crore trees on area of 10,000 hectare land. He also developed cooperative marketing network for horticulture products. He brought together the un-organized farmers for performing the agricultural operations. His contribution to organize network of cooperative societies to make available the agriculture credit and quality seeds to farmers from Central Cooperative Bank, Large Size Agriculture Multipurpose Cooperative Societies and Primary Agricultural Societies is immense. His efforts to provide Warehouses and Cold Storage facilities are commendable.

Inspired by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's Philosophy, Shri Agrawal made enormous efforts to unite and organize the landless labourers and adivasis of Chhattisgarh State. His initiatives have been supportive in generating incomes to farmers thereby making them economically strong. In order to curb the seasonal unemployment of farmers, Shri Agrawal created awareness amongst them about scientific training of various agricultural allied activities such as Bee-keeping, Piggery & Rabbit-rearing, Preservation & Storage of Small Farm Produce etc. He encouraged farmers in setting up 180 village level Farm Societies and 58 Primary Tree Cooperatives.

He has made tremendous efforts to popularize the concept of farm forestry through his Articles, Interviews and lectures. For his dedicated efforts in farm forestry, he was awarded Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshmitra Award in 1990 by Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. Impressed by his contribution to Farm Forestry initiatives, a video film was made by Mr. Mike H. Pandey, Green Oscar Award Winner, the film was widely screened in over 156 countries. His interview on Rural Life and Environment was telecasted on Voice of America. He was nominated for Exemplary Forest Management in Asia and Pacific from India and delivered lectures on Farm Cooperatives and Environment in Schools, Colleges and Prestigious Institutions.

Shri Agrawal, in his quest for knowledge, has visited many countries in Europe, America and South East Asia to acquire valuable information about agriculture and cooperation.

Presently, Shri Agrawal is General Secretary, Bharat Krishak Samaj, Sarguja Branch and Member, National Council of Bharat Krishak Samaj, New Delhi, Chairman, District Cooperative Wholesale Consumer Store, Ambikapur. He has been the torch bearer for the cooperative movement in Chhattisgarh.

IFFCO Sahakarita Bandhu Award 2009-10Shri O.P. Agrawal - A Profile

Shri Mahendra Shastri, the recipient of

IFFCO “Sahakarita Ratna Award” for the year

2009-10 is an enthusiastic cooperator, an

advocate by profession, agriculturist, prominent

politician and an eloquent speaker from

Rajasthan State. Shri Shastri is associated with

cooperative movement for last 50 years. He is

firm believer in cooperation and considers that

inclusive growth of our country is possible only

through Cooperatives.

Shri Shastri was Born on April 27, 1932, at village Bambora in

Kishangarhbas Tehsil of Alwar District. As a Student, Shri Shastri

participated in numerous national level debate competitions and always

won first prize or gold medals. Shri Shastri finished his graduation in

humanities, obtained his degree in law and started his career as an

Advocate. He also acquired Shastri-Sahitya Ratna Prabhakar. He

developed deep affiliation for cooperative values in his young age and

chose cooperatives as a medium to serve rural India. He has strived hard

for the multifarious growth of cooperatives in Rajasthan State.

Shri Shastri's association with cooperatives started in the year

1960 as a Member in Alwar Sale-Purchase Cooperative Society. Later on

he has held various coveted positions in different organizations from

village level to national level organisations. He has been the Chairman,

Rajasthan State Cooperative Sale and Purchase Union and Director on

the Board of - Rajasthan State Cooperative Bank Ltd, Rajasthan State

Cooperative Consumer Union, Rajasthan Industrial Cooperative Bank,

Rajasthan State Cooperative Union, National Cooperative Consumer

Federation (NCCF) and Member in Governing Council of National

Cooperative Union.

Shri Shastri is a versatile personality, he is a creative writer and

poet. He has two books to his credit. He is an effective vocalist of folk

songs and a graceful orator. In his quest for knowledge, Shri Shastri

participated in International Cooperative Seminars held in Japan and

Czechoslovakia.

He has been instrumental in popularizing the concept of

cooperation in Rajasthan by writing articles in news papers, providing

practical training and interacting with cooperators. He was elected as a

Member of Legislative Assembly for three times. He also headed many

important positions in various political parties viz. Congress, Janata

Dal and Lok Dal at National level. Presently Shri Shastri is active in Social,

Political and Cooperative field. He is Member and Organiser, Rajasthan

Pradesh (Regional) Congress Committee's Cooperative Wing. He is

heading The Alwar Sale & Purchase Cooperative Society, Alwar and

Primary Village Service Cooperative Society Kalsada as a Chairman.

Sahakarita Ratna Award 2009-10Shri Mahendra Shastri- A Profile

The vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is a source of

inspiration to the all round growth of cooperative movement

in India. In order to honor the ideals of Pandit Jawaharlal

Nehru, the great patron of cooperative movement, Indian

Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has

instituted two prestigious Awards in cooperation namely

“Sahakarita Ratna” Award in the year 1982-83 and

“Sahakarita Bandhu” Award in the year 1993-94 as its

humble contribution to strengthen the cooperative

movement. These Awards are conferred on eminent

cooperators for their distinguished and outstanding

contribution towards the propagation of cooperative

ideology and strengthening of cooperative movement.

These Awards carry an amount of ` 2, 01,000/- each and a

citation, presented every year by IFFCO in a function

“Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial IFFCO Lecture” generally

organised during the Cooperative Week Celebrated in the

country, from 14-20 November, which also coincides with

the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

On the basis of recommendations received from various

cooperative Institutions, IFFCO Board of Directors selects

the Awardees. So far, 26 eminent cooperators have

received the prestigious IFFCO “Sahakarita Ratna” Award

and 17 cooperators have been honoured with IFFCO

“Sahakarita Bandhu” Award.

The “Sahakarita Ratna” Award for the year 2009-10

is presented to Shri Mahendra Shastri from Rajasthan.

The honour of “Sahakarita Bandhu” Award for the year

2009-10 is being conferred on Shri O.P. Agrawal from

Chhattisgarh.

IFFCO

SAHAKARITA RATNA

AND

SAHAKARITA BANDHU

AWARDS