Mangaluru: An International Conference on “Power of Cooperatives in Sustainable Development” was successfully organised at St Aloysius University as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the St Aloysius College Teachers’ Cooperative Credit Society (SACTCC). The conference was jointly hosted by the SACTCC Society and the School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy at the university campus.
The conference aimed to examine the pivotal role of cooperatives in addressing contemporary global challenges and advancing sustainable development. Academicians, industry experts, and researchers from India and abroad participated through keynote addresses and research paper presentations.
Inaugural session and reflections on cooperative growth
The inaugural session was held at Eric Mathias Hall. Dr Manuel Tauro, Dean of the School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy and Secretary of the SACTCC Society, welcomed the gathering and traced the origin and growth of the Society, which evolved from a small chit fund into a robust and well-established cooperative institution over five decades.
The Chief Guest, Prof. Yashavantha Dongre, described cooperatives as both a way of life and a sustainable business model. He stressed the importance of responsible resource utilisation through the 3R principle — Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, and highlighted the resilience of cooperatives during periods of economic crisis. He also encouraged greater academic research and publication in the cooperative sector.
Golden Jubilee souvenir and leadership insights
Dr Chandrashekhar Shetty introduced the Golden Jubilee Souvenir of the SACTCC Society, which was formally released during the programme. Presiding over the session, Rev. Dr Praveen Martis, Vice-Chancellor of St Aloysius University and President of the SACTCC Society, reflected on the Society’s legacy, values, and contributions to the welfare of its members over the past 50 years.
Past and present Presidents and Secretaries of the SACTCC Society were felicitated in recognition of their dedicated service. Rev. Dr Melwin D’Cunha, Pro Vice-Chancellor, representing the management of MJES, highlighted the cooperative’s commitment to unity, service, and social responsibility.
Keynote address on sustainable development
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Sudha K., Research Professor at Srinivas University, Mangaluru. She spoke on the central role of cooperatives in sustainable development, their contribution to empowering marginalised communities, and their alignment with Gandhian principles. She also outlined global and Indian cooperative movements and elaborated on the three pillars of sustainable development — People, Prosperity, and Place.
Wide participation and scholarly engagement
The conference was conducted in hybrid mode and featured 136 research paper presentations across 12 thematic tracks. A total of 714 participants, including 350 online participants, took part in the academic deliberations, making it a significant scholarly engagement on cooperatives and sustainability.
Valedictory session
The valedictory session featured Dr Mukunda Prabhu, Head of the Department of Hindi, St Aloysius University, as the Chief Guest. Drawing from his over three decades of association with the SACTCC Society, he shared insights on how its welfare schemes had positively impacted members.
Rev. Fr Vishwas Joy Misquith, who presided over the valedictory session, commended the Society’s 50 years of dedicated service and lauded the Golden Jubilee celebrations marked through an international academic conference.
The conference was efficiently organised by the team led by Mr Naveen Mascarenhas, Convener, with Dr Bharathi and Ms Helma serving as Co-Conveners.
