Date:08/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/08/stories/2007020807190300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Inquiry into functioning of Coirfed sought

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: Chairman of Coirfed, the apex body of primary cooperative coir societies, Haji M.K. Abdul Gafoor has demanded a free and fair inquiry into the performance of Coirfed from 1999 till date. At a press conference here, Mr. Gafoor, a Congress leader, said he had complete faith in the impartiality of Minister for Coir G. Sudhakaran. The Government should take initiative to expose the corrupt in Coirfed, said Mr. Gafoor.

He said the 2004-05 audit report, which cited irregularities in Coirfed, was prepared without taking into consideration several facts. Mr. Gafoor said the Kerala High Court had ordered the cooperation registrar to reconsider the points raised by the Coirfed administrative committee in a case filed in connection with the audit report.

Audit report

According to an audit report of 2001, irregularities were found during the term of the former office-bearers, who were leaders of the CPI (M), he said. Mr. Gafoor also said Coirfed had resumed the export of coir products under the present administrative committee.

Orders received

Coirfed had received orders to the tune of Rs.1.5 crore from foreign countries in 2006-07, the highest in the recent years, he added.