According to a news report, Sahakar Bharati, Goa has demanded the scrapping of section 59(6) of the amended Goa State Co-operative Act 2014. The section, they say, is unconstitutional and affecting the democratic functioning of co-operatives in Goa.
The emerging scenario is precarious as Goa is ruled by BJP and Sahakar Bharati is an RSS body. Efforts to contact the National President of Sahakar Bharati Satish Marathe could not succeed.
The act came into force in 2014 and section 59(6) of it bars office bearers of a co-operative society from holding office for more than 10 years.
A source close to Sahakar Bharati says a conference of Sahakar Bharati-Goa is scheduled for July 11 with theme ‘problems before co-operatives in Goa’. Mahadev Naik, Minister of Co-operation, is the chief guest for the function.
The co-operative sector has a wide network in Goa, but it faces several problems. One of the problems is high license fee charged on housing societies. The sector must be exempt from payment of taxes, demands Sahakar Bharati.
Govts should always solicit views of CoOps before amending CoOp Act. Such interaction is necessary to avoid hardships. And at no time, amendments be effected retrospectively