Mangaluru: Minister for Cooperation H S Mahadev Prasad inaugurated the Uthkrustha Sahakari Soudha’, centenary building of SCDCC – South Canara District Central Cooperative Bank at Kodialbail on April 30, Thursday.

Addressing the gathering, he said, “Centre must drop the plans to bring the cooperative sector under income tax as it would adversely affect the shareholders.”

He also announced that the Yashaswini programme will be extended to urban areas to cover as many as 33 lakh cooperative society members.

He meanwhile requested NABARD to maintain 50 per cent credit structure for Apex banks. The credit structure has been reduced to 40 per cent from 50 per cent, which has added burden, he said.

NABARD Chairman Harshakumar Bhanwala told the bank to take initiatives  towards  the extension of homes and creation of sanitation facilities in villages.

SCDCC Bank President M N Rajendra Kumar announced a contribution of Rs 10 lakh towards the relief fund for Nepal earthquake victims, SCDCC Bank employees will give a day’s salary whle the administrative committee members and Navodaya group members have contributed a total of Rs five lakh, Kumar said.

DK District in-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai presided over the event.