Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Agriculture

12-October-2012 17:35 IST

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Dr. Charan Singh Mahant today, urged the States to amend the State Cooperative Societies’ Act in tune with the Constituion (Ninety Seventh Amendment), 2011 on or before 14.02.2013.

Dr. Mahant was speaking at the National Conference on the Constituion (97th Amendment) Act, 2011 organised by NCUI. The Conference was attended by, Ministers of various States, Registrars of Cooperative Societies from States/UTs, Cooperators and other delegates.

Elaborating further on the issue the MOS said that there are several provisions in the State Acts, which need to be as per the democratic functioning of cooperatives, “Amendment of the Constitution is a very important and major initiative to strengthen and reinvigorate the cooperative sector in our country, which has emerged as a unique institution to service economically weaker sections of people with widest reach. The objective of the Constitutional Amendment is to ensure that the cooperative societies in the country function in a democratic, professional, autonomous and economically sound manner”. He further said, “ in addition to include the right to form cooperative societies as a Fundamental Right under Article 19 also seeks to empower the Parliament in respect if multi-state cooperative societies and the State Legislatures in case of other cooperative societies to make appropriate law”

The cooperative movement in the country has witnessed substantial growth in many diverse areas of the economy. The MOS said that “with a network of about six lakh cooperative societies and a membership of about 24.92 crore, the cooperative movement in India has emerged as one of the largest in the world.” “The cooperative sector provides direct and self-employment to about 23.86 million people in the country. Therefore “it has been the endeavour of the Govt. of India to evolve an appropriate policy and legislative framework to create environment conducive to the healthy and sound growth of cooperatives”. The measures are framing of national policy on cooperatives, enactment of national policy on cooperatives, enactment of Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, assistance to cooperative education and training, assistance to cooperative education and training, assistance through NCDC for development of cooperatives, implementation of recommendations of the Prof. Vaidyanathan Committee for revitalization of short-term cooperative credit structure, amendment to Constituion in respect of cooperatives, amendment to MSCS Act,2002 and constitution of High Power Committee on Cooperatives etc.

MP:DS: constitutional amendment(12.10.2012)

Right to form cooperative societies urged to be secured, with state laws aligned to strengthen democratic and autonomous cooperatives. States are urged to amend state cooperative societies legislation to align with the 2011 constitutional amendment so cooperatives operate as democratic, professional, autonomous and economically sound institutions; the amendment secures the right to form cooperative societies and allocates legislative competence to Parliament for multi state cooperatives and to State Legislatures for other cooperatives, accompanied by national policy, legislative measures, education and financial support to revitalise cooperative governance and credit structures.