The constant pressure on the Himachal Pradesh state govt by the local unit of Sahakar Bharati to amend the archaic co-op act seemed to have brought about some positive results at last.
“The government has agreed to form a committee to bring in the changes in order to align the H.P. Cooperative Societies Act, 1968 with the 97th Constitutional Amendment Act”, claimed Sahakar Bharati state President Joginder Verma.
Verma who along with his team was constantly pressurizing the state govt also arranged a meeting of Sahakar Bharati senior leader Satish Marathe with the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in the former’s last visit to the state.
Nudged by the RSS leaning body, media reports say CM Jai Ram Thakur announced that the State Government is planning to constitute a three members committee of Cabinet Ministers to look into the amendments in the H.P. Cooperative Societies Act, 1968.
CM is also said to have vowed to strengthen the PACS and make them multipurpose units catering to a variety of needs at the most local level.
Talking about the Sahakar Bharati idea of the model co-op act, Marathe said co-operatives must be given a level playing field with other agencies. Co-op laws in most of the states are out of tune with times and Sahakar Bharati has taken upon itself to petition/ pressurize state govts to amend them.
“Nobody can dispute the fact that co-op is capable of transforming India”, asserted Marathe.
Verma has also approached the CM asking him to consult with Marathe in the matter. It is likely that the three Ministers of the Committee are going to contact Marthe through video conference to know his take on the matter, said Joginder Verma who had earlier even threatened to go to court on the issue.
CM Thakur, meanwhile claimed that PACS would be strengthened with the help of Nabard and it can be set up with 10 or more members. PACS would act as a bridge between the rural borrowers and NABARD/RBI, he is reported saying by the local media.
“We expect the notification in a day or two and our goal is to fashion the co-op act in line with the 97th CAA. There should be autonomy in PACS and insulation against political manipulation”, said Sahakar Bharati State President Verma who has been working hard for this day.
Himachal has a robust network of co-operatives. At present, 4,843 cooperative societies are functioning in the state with a total membership of around 17.35 lakh. Out of this around 2,132 are PACSs, with a total membership of 12.56 lakhs. Recently, INR 12.40 crore has been sanctioned for 164 cooperative societies for business development.
