RATNANAGAR: Nepal’s first cooperatives-- Bakhan Multi-purpose Cooperative Institute in Sharadanagar of Chitwan has established a cooperative museum. The museum established in the premises of the Cooperative has compiled the historical documents and goods of the first cooperative of the country. The cooperative was founded on 2nd April 1957 in the initiative of Bakhan Singh Gurung. It had begun with 60 members collecting Rs. 10 each. It now has 205 share holders, according to its Chairperson Mohan Singh Lama. The museum also collects the agro-tools used by the farmers in historical times. The cooperative has developed a master plan for the museum including a cooperatives school, library and training centre. It is thus looking for government support to realize the plan, adds Lama. The cooperatives campaign that began with the Bakhan cooperatives has now reached to more than 33,000 cooperatives institutions across the country. Of them, more than 600 are operating in Chitwan.