Mangalore : Veerappa Moily, the union corporate affairs minister inaugurated the golden jubilee celebration of the Canara Organization for Development and Peace (CODP) held at Milagres at March 4, Sunday.

Addressing the gathering he said that the ministry of corporate affairs has come up with a new scheme to create producer societies with the power to give deserved value to farm products.

Speaking on producer societies, he said that they will be smaller than cooperative societies and will be registered under the Companies Act and these societies can work in high standard and eliminate farmer problems.

Rev. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the bishop of Mangalore Diocese, said that economic growth has led to inequality and discrimination against some sections of society.

Later, a number of self-help groups were felicitated on this occasion in recognition of their achievements.

Fr. Frederick D’Souza, the head of the Bangalore unit of Caritas and the executive director – designate of Caritas India, and Dr. Rita Noronha, the social worker, were present.