Recently, the Lok Sabha passes Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment Bill).

This seeks to strengthen cooperatives by making them transparent and introducing a regular system of elections. The bill was approved in a moment of heat during which only three members participated. Piloting the bill, the Home Minister, Amit Shah remarked that, 'With the passing of this bill by this House, a new era will begin in the country's cooperative movement.'

The Union Cabinet approved this bill to increase transparency, accountability, and profit in multi-state cooperative societies. He further remarked that the Modi government has decided to form three multi-state societies based on this idea. The first society will act as a platform to export the produce of farmers. The second society will associate small farmers with the production of seeds. The third society will provide suitable prices to the farmers for their produce by marketing organic products across the country and the world.

In the bill, a provision has been made for the Election Authority to implement electoral reforms to conduct fair elections and the authority will be as powerful as the Election Commission of India. It has also been made a provision to hold elections again for the vacant posts. Regulations for discipline in board meetings and smooth functioning of cooperative societies. Reservation to the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and women have been mandated to ensure their representation too.

Non-compliance of various constitutional requirements can lead to disqualification of the board members. No one will be given a job owing to kinship relations. He added that the Right to Information has also been included in the Bill.

The Union Government has also decided to set up a cooperative university for cooperative education in the coming days. The National Cooperative Database will also be started by PM Modi. Before Diwali this year, the map of cooperatives shall be released for the country.

The cooperative movement holds a century-long history in India and has accounted for success in the credit department and dairy sectors etc.

Cooperatives couldn't develop much as not much attention was paid to cooperatives either at the state level or national level. It's going to be now when the Ministry of Cooperation will once again contribute strongly to the development of the country.

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Reference:

• Press Release - pib.gov.in
  
• livemint.com