Recently in Chennai, the Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW) and the Working Women’s Forum (WWF) celebrated the re-election victory of their President, Dr. Nandini Azad. With a membership exceeding 600,000 women across 14 locations in South India, ICNW stands as a beacon of progress and empowerment, playing a pivotal role in providing over one million loans and fostering economic independence.
Dr. Nandini Azad, a trailblazing co-operator, made history as the first Indian woman and Chennai resident to be re-elected on the board of the International Raiffeisen Union (IRU), the world’s oldest cooperative union based in Germany with 53 members spanning 33 countries. In 2018, she became the first woman board member of the Global Board in 50 years of the IRU Germany. WWF-ICNW is the only women-only cooperative organisation in 50 years to be elected to senior positions in both the IRU and Women Farmer Organization.
The historical significance of Chennai in the cooperative movement was highlighted, tracing back to 1892 when the Madras Presidency government initiated the mission ‘Find Raiffeisen.’ Dr. Azad’s election marks a historical moment, echoing this connection to Raiffeisen after 124 years.
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ICNW actively engages in securing land reform strategies and titles for landless women, challenging traditional family farming systems that perpetuate gender inequality. A significant accomplishment is that 36 per cent of ICNW/WWF’s women members now hold land titles, symbolising a transformative shift in redistributing land resources and capital into the capable hands of women. This success is not merely about ownership; it signifies a transformative shift in redistributing land resources and capital into the capable hands of women, challenging conventional norms, and dismantling patriarchal structures. Dr. Azad supports the efforts to tackle the adversaries of climate change by advocating the use of organic manure from the fields, single-hoe furrows, and topsoil (carbon credits). She will attend COP28 (UN Climate Change Summit) in Dubai, UAE now as representative of 600,000 poor women farmers from south India.
A panel and over 500 women cooperative leaders from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu participated in the celebratory event. Parvathy, the Treasurer of WWF, underscored Dr. Azad’s profound impact, noting her role as a compassionate leader and problem solver.
G. Suresh, the Director of the Natesan Institute of Cooperative Management, appreciated Dr. Azad’s remarkable achievements and tireless efforts in advocating for women’s economic rights. Renowned historian Dr. Balambal and Adivarahan, Auditor at Venkat & Ranga Associates (Cooperatives), also commended Dr. Azad’s resolute decisions and inspirational endeavours.
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Professor Dr. S Thenmozhi, Head of the Department of Counselling Psychology at the University of Madras, congratulated Dr. Azad as a true embodiment of women’s empowerment. Dr. Thenmozhi underscored the significance of Bharathiyar’s quote, “Bharathiyar Kanda Puthamai Pen,” affirming that Dr. Azad stands as a true embodiment of women’s empowerment. Senthil Kumar, Deputy Director of Nehru Yuva Kendra, also affirmed her as a consistent history-maker and a role model for cooperative leaders.
Branch members from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh expressed gratitude for ICNW’s transformative impact on their lives. In testimonials, they specifically acknowledged and thanked Dr. Nandini Azad for her leadership and contributions to grassroots development.
In her acceptance speech, Dr. Nandini Azad attributed her victory to a decade of hard work and challenges. She highlighted ICNW’s significant impact, propelling it to join the five trillion economies, and emphasising that her triumph was a collective victory for women in cooperatives worldwide. Dr. Azad also shared ICNW’s pandemic response, demonstrating commitment by supporting nearly 120,000 women members during lockdowns. The organisation’s resilience earned them the “Corona Micro-Entrepreneur Warrior’s Award.”
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ICNW’s success in addressing intersecting barriers of caste, class, and gender was acknowledged, along with its innovative approach to establishing local supply chains, climate change initiatives, and digital literacy programmes. Dr. Azad noted the transformative journey of ICNW members, starting with modest loans and now receiving substantial financial support. These women have achieved remarkable milestones, educating their children and inspiring others to transition to the pre-formal sector.
Egammai, Secretary of WWF and CEO of ICNW emphasised ICNW’s collective success, now represented in two global union organisations – the IRU and the Women Farmer Organization. This victory reaffirms that a large women’s cooperative movement like ICNW can compete with moneyed corporate cooperatives due to its sheer mass character of women workers and their force in a democracy.
The event celebrated a decade of Dr. Azad’s leadership, highlighting ICNW’s collective strength and resilience in fostering a global symbol of hope and empowerment.
