Training Policy

The Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab constituted a Committee chaired by Shri Bhupinderjit Randhawa, Additional Registrar, to propose the Training Policy for Officer/Officials of Department of Cooperation. The members of the Committee were Dr. Neeraj Pasricha, Principal, RICM and Shri Nachhattar Singh, Principal, ACSTI. Prof. B.B. Goel, Department of Public Admn. Panjab University and Shri Kulbir Singh, Faculty Member, PSIPA, were also associated with the committee as special-invitees.

The committee submitted its Report – Vision 2010 CIRCA on 11.5.2000. The report has been examined in consultation with the officers of the Department.

It is recognised that training is important, imperative and cost effective method to improve the efficiency, competence of the employees of the Department. Training has an added relevance for building leadership and confidence of employees. It also bridges gap between expectations of the public from the employees in terms of their satisfaction in changed techno-economic and socio-political environment in the State.

The Department has been imparting training to its officers/officials at various levels. Apart from Diploma Programmes in Cooperation and induction training of Inspectors and ARCSs, no other regular training programmes are pursued for any of the various categories of officers/officials or the employees. This has resulted in lack of specialisation or professionalisation in the Department.

It is felt that officers/officials of the department need to give greater attention to professionalisation and specialisation as they have to deal/perform multifarious functions including industrial and non-industrial production, processes, marketing, credit, house building, labour and construction etc.

Structured Training Policy

• All officers/officials of the department would undergo three types of training programmes namely; induction training, orientation or refresher training and specialised training.
• Induction training for ARCS and Cooperative Inspectors would continue as earlier. It would be of 4½ months duration. Details of topics/subjects covered during the training would be reviewed on an annual basis.
• DRCSs would henceforth undergo an induction training of four weeks, of which they would do an attachment of one week each with a Cooperative Sugar Mill and Cooperative Milk Union. They would spend one week in the office of RCS to understand the working of various Branches and be attached with a DRCS for the 4^th week and familiarise themselves of the working of the office of DRCS.
• JRCSs would henceforth undergo an induction training of four weeks, of which they would spend two weeks in the office of RCS and do an attachment with two Apex Cooperative Federations for one week each.
• Training programmes for induction training of DRCSs and JRCSs would be finalised by RCS.
• For orientation/refresher training, the department would ensure that all Cooperative Inspectors and ARCSs do atleast one refresher course of one week duration once in two years. These refresher courses would begin on completion of firth year of service of Cooperative Inspectors and ARCSs. The Department would prepare and maintain a Roster of Orientation/Refresher Training Courses for all Cooperative Inspectors and ARCSs.
• Orientation/Refresher training courses for ARCSs and Cooperative Inspectors would normally relate to subjects that would update their information in regard to Cooperatives, Cooperative Laws, Rules, Bye-laws and procedures framed thereunder, Revenue & Banking, Office Methods and Procedures, Judgement Writing, adjudication on arbitration references etc.
• All DRCSs, JRCSs and Addl. RCSs would undergo a refresher/orientation training of one week duration atleast once in two years. These would begin on completion of two years' of service as such by the officers.
• Orientation/Refresher Training Programmes for DRCSs, JRCSs/Addl. RCSs would give greater stress on modern management particularly management of cooperatives, cooperative marketing, use of computers and information technology, cooperative credit and financing etc.
• Specialised Training Programmes for Cooperative Inspectors and ARCSs would mainly concentrate on Cooperative Laws, Rules, Bye-laws and Procedures framed thereunder.
• It would be aimed to ensure that these officers become guardian and saviour of cooperative system and they protect the interest of the Cooperative Societies in the best possible manner.
• These programmes would be more intensive and also include training on cooperative credit and marketing.
• Specialised training for DRCSs/JRCSs/Addl. RCSs would include training on most modern management techniques and methods, computerisation, information technology, commercial and merchant banking, marketing, sugar processing, agro processing and emerging trends in agriculture and industries, as a result of WTO.
• The duration of specialised training programmes both for ARCSs and Inspectors or Senior Officers including DRCSs/JRCSs, Addl. RCSs would depend on the nature of the programme but it would normally not be less than two weeks.
• The Department would also endeavour to sponsor its senior officers for overseas training for broader understanding and development of cooperatives at international level. These training programmes would also include the training on specialised subjects like information technology, banking and on farm based agri-processing etc.
• For institutional arrangements for training as envisaged above, it has been decided that training would be imparted mainly by PICT, ACSTI, RICM, Milkfed Regional Demonstration Training Centre, Jalandhar and JLT Cell of SADB.
• The induction training for Cooperative Inspectors and ARCSs would be organised mainly by PICT and in case need be, by RICM also.
• Refresher/Orientation Programmes for Cooperative Inspectors and ARCSs would be mainly organised by PICT and ACSTI. These Institutes would give greater stress on orientation/refresher training programmes on cooperative laws, rules and procedures, revenue, banking and other related laws. For other subjects including computerisation, refresher/orientation training programmes, may be organised by RICM.
• Refresher/Orientation Training of DRCSs/JRCSs/Addl. RCSs would be organised by RICM, Chandigarh, VAMNICOM, Pune.
• Specialised Training Programmes would be assigned to RICM, VAMNICOM, Pune, Milkfed Regional Demonstration Training Centre, Jalandhar or other institutions as may be identified at national or international level. However, specialised training programmes for Cooperative Inspectors and ARCSs particularly those relating to cooperative laws, revenue and banking, would also be organised by PICT and ACSTI.
• In so far as HDC or other Diploma Programmes for Cooperation are concerned,existingarrangements would continue.
• For Ministerial Staff of the Department, training would be structured as induction and orientation/refresher training. Induction Training would be organised mainly by PICT and this would focus on office and secretarial procedures and methods. This would be of 4 weeks' duration during which the employees would also do an office attachment of atleast one week including the offices of RCS, Addl. RCSs, DRCSs, ARCSs.
• Orientation and Refresher Training Programmes for the ministerial staff would include training on modern methods of office management, filing, computerisation, use of information technology etc. This would be of one week’s duration. These training programmes would be organised by PICT and RICM after an employee has done four years of service in direct recruitment cadre and two years' of service in promotional cadre.
• Training rosters for all officers/officials would be prepared and maintained by Education and Training Branch in the office of Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab. The officers/officials who have three years or less to retire, would not be considered for training.