MUMBAI, DEC 6: Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh on Sunday said that the cooperative movement is faced with immense challenges in the age of new economic reforms and the movement would grow only if the people in this movement help to build up immense faith and trust of the society.He warned that the cooperative movement would be in danger if people start mistrusting them. Desmukh was speaking at a function organised by Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sangh after unveiling the busts of former presidents of the Sangh Gulabrao Patil and Bhausaheb Bhokare.Deshumkh assured that the government's interference in the work of various cooperatives will be reduced and necessary measures will be taken in this regard. He announced that the education fund will be increased as suggested by the commissioner for cooperatives.Earlier speaking at the valedictory session of the two-day state level conference on sugar industry which was jointly organised by the Vasantdada Sugar Institute and the state cooperative sugarconfederation, Deshmukh stressed the need for restrictions on import of sugar to save the sugar industry. He said that the Central government should be forced to implement the restrictions on import of sugar and also called for reaching policy decisions to save the sugar industry from the present crisis.Deshmukh maintained that to tide over the present crisis, the farmers should be paid a minimum of Rs 1,000 per quintal as procurement price of sugarcane. If such good price was not given, there would be shortage of sugarcane which would put the industry into further crisis.
