*  *  *  The views expressed are those of the author and not of the Reserve Bank of India.
Shri Charan Das Mahant, Hon’ble Minister of State for Agriculture & Food Processing, Government of India, Shri Gouri Shanker Bisen, Hon’ble Minister for Co-operation, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Government of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President, National Cooperative Union of India, distinguished invitees and guests, ladies and gentlemen.