It was a pity that in spite of their long and close association with the cooperative movement, several leaders at national level had not yet thought it necessary to exert their influence in favour of the cooperative movement. Weighed down by the government’s negative attitude cooperative banks are suffering greatly , noted P R Mehra, Chairman Khatri Cooperative Bank in an exclusive interview with the indiancooperative.com correspondent in New Delhi.
The cooperative banks are playing an important role in the Indian economy providing people with banking services in areas where the big commercial banks were shy of operating.
It was therefore strange that the Indian government followed policies that weakened the cooperative banks and their resolve to make their valuable contributions to the country’s economy, Chairman added.
Instead of bringing in policies favourable to the co-op banking sector, the govt imposed restrictions and taxes on it impairing its ability to work. Direct tax code was a case in point, Mr Mehra added.
Mr Mehra claims his bank has had a reasonably good career. It posts an annual profit of a little less than 2 crore net. It has about 50 thousand account holders with an annual turnover working out to an impressive Rs 184 crore.
Established way back in 1939, it is one of the oldest banks in the capital. It will soon undergo complete computarization. It has always been functioning in conformity with the rules laid down by the govt and has never attracted adverse comments or punishments from the Reserve Bank of India.