Now Reading: Looms of Ladakh cooperative denies registration irregularities
-
01
Looms of Ladakh cooperative denies registration irregularities
The Looms of Ladakh Women Cooperative has denied allegations of irregularities in its registration and functioning after the Union Territory Administration wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs raising concerns. The cooperative,…
The Story in Brief
The Looms of Ladakh Women Cooperative has denied allegations of irregularities in its registration and functioning after the Union Territory Administration wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs raising concerns. The cooperative, which works with Pashmina herders and artisans, said it was established in full compliance with the law and under statutory oversight. It highlighted recognition from Prime Minister Modi’s Mann Ki Baat and a United Nations campaign.
The Ladakh administration pointed out that IAS officer Prasanna Ramaswamy and his spouse Abhilasha Bahuguna were listed as co-founders, and Ramaswamy chaired the cooperative during his tenure as Leh Deputy Commissioner. The administration said departmental records did not show prior approval for such an association. The cooperative maintained it has conducted three elections to its management positions and that its governance has been studied by NABARD and LBSNAA officials.
The Indian Opinion
The dispute risks being framed as a battle between a noble women’s collective and a suspicious bureaucracy, but the facts demand nuance. An IAS officer’s spouse was a co-founder, and the officer himself chaired the cooperative while posted as deputy commissioner. That raises legitimate questions about conflict of interest, even if the cooperative’s decade of work is genuine. The real test is whether the GI registry’s deficiencies can be rectified transparently, and whether the MHA’s review will focus on governance rules or political vendetta. Watch how the cooperative’s next elections are conducted.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
