By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 31: Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Padma Kumari Aryal Monday urged the cooperative leaders to mobilise the network of cooperatives and their health related institutions to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. Minister Aryal made these remarks during a discussion programme held today in the capital with chairmen of subjective central association of cooperatives having nationwide strong networks.
Minister Aryal urged the cooperative leaders to optimally mobilise cooperatives hospitals and health institutions for the treatment of patients and use their ambulances to carry the patients in this state of pandemic. She also instructed them to operate cooperative banks and cooperatives partially to provide essential services to its members for their livelihood and treatment.
Minister Aryal also urged the cooperative leaders to play a crucial role for generating awareness among their members regarding the safety measures to be taken to save themselves and others. A campaign has started from all sides; let us be a part of it to help the nation fight against this crisis,” Aryal said.
Earlier on Sunday, the Department of Cooperatives had issued a six-point directive to the cooperatives for saving human life from the global pandemic of COVID-19. On the occasion, a discussion was also held regarding the celebration of upcoming National Cooperative Day.
The meeting has formed a management committee under the coordination of senior vice-president of National Cooperative Federation Om Devi Malla for the celebration of National Cooperatives Day.
Paritosh Poudel, Khem Pathak, KB Upreti, Surendra Bhandari, Narayan Devkota, Gyan Bahadur Tamang, Madhav Dulal, Kedar Khadka are other members in the management committee.