RS passes MSCS (Amendment) Bill 2023; MPs applaud its provisions

Rajya Saha passed the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to amend the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 on Tuesday.

The Bill was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha. MoS Cooperation Ministry B L Verma moved the Bill for consideration and passage in Rajya Sabha.

During the passage of the Bill, several MPs connected to BJP lauded the provisions of the bill and said that the proposed amendments will strengthen the cooperative sector and fulfil the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’.

In his remarks, Rajya Sabha member G K Vasan said, “After the consultation with 28 ministers, the amendments have been made in the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 and the proposed amendments will bring transparency”.

“In many states, the elections of cooperatives are being delayed but the proposed amendments will ensure the conduction of elections on time. I endorse the amendments in the MSCS Amendment Bill”, he added.

Another Rajya Sabha MP Kailash Soni said, “I am associated with the cooperative sector since long and was associated with Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Bank. This is an important bill, which will empower the rural economy because cooperatives are working at the grass roots level”, he said.

“We are very thankful to the Prime Minister for creating a separate ministry for the cooperation and giving the ministry’s responsibility to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. I have visited many co-ops especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra, which are leading states in co-ops. Several recommendations of the Vaidyanathan Committee have been compiled in the Bill. The proposed amendments will help co-ops in achieving Self Reliant India’, Soni added.

Parliamentarian Dhananjay Mahadik said, “Our three generations have been associated with the cooperative sector. I come from Maharashtra, which got a big gift from the Central Government after the formation of the cooperation ministry. The decision of giving income tax relief of Rs 10,000 crore to the cooperative sugar industry of the country, which resolved the long pending demand. With this 12 crore sugarcane farmers got big relief”, he noted.

“The proposed amendment will disallow Chairmen or directors of any cooperative society from fighting elections, who have indulged in irregularities. It will bring professionalism in the working of cooperatives. The bill will provide a reservation of seats one each for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women in the board of a cooperative society”, he underlined.

Rajya Sabha MP Narhari Amin said, “The bill will bring transparency and accountability. This will strengthen the cooperative ecosystem and ensure election of co-ops on time.

In his remarks, Mithlesh Kumar said, “The constitution of the Cooperative Election Authority, Rehabilitation Fund and others in the proposed bill are commendable. There are around 1500 multi state cooperative societies and about 29 crore people are associated with the cooperative movement. The provision of reservation of seats for SC/ST women is laudable.

During the passage of the bill, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala gave the example of one of the co-ops namely Bal Gopal Bank at Idar, Gujarat. “The bank encourages children to save money from the beginning of their life and fund their education when they are older. You will be surprised to note that today around Rs 16 crore is deposited in the bank”, said Rupala who received thunderous applause from several members of Rajya Sabha.