The upcoming Governing Council Elections of NCUI, which were scheduled to be held in March, 2020 have got embroiled in legal tangles. NCUI clubbed some constituencies, which has been challenged by Ashok Dabas, Director of the National Labour Cooperatives Federation of India Ltd. The changes are sure to further weaken the representation of weaker sections cooperatives in the apex co-op body of Indian Cooperative Movement, charges Dabas.
Talking to Indian Cooperative Dabas said that, among other things, a few of the leaders of NCUI decide constituencies in a manner which would ensure their own entry at the apex body without caring for the overall growth of the co-op movement which NCUI spearheads in the country.
He gave example of State Co-op Unions which corners the cake by getting almost half (9) of the representations at the expense of various other important sectors which contribute a hefty amount to the coffers of NCUI and is the backbone of NCUI finances. Worse, the process of getting a berth in the Governing Council promotes selection and not election.
“How can there be an election between two delegates”, asks Dabas. Similarly, there are many such seats that go for a “Tie and a Toss” and this has been happening unchecked for the more than 15 years. It is a mockery of a democratic system that the State Co-op Union’s delegates seek a proposer and a seconder which need not be their voters. Is not it a mockery of the election process and a blatant way of getting into the Board”, Dabas asked.
Also talking about the Category of the Highest Contributors of Co-op Education Fund, Dabas said there are 4 seats, from which IFFCO and Kribhco were earlier nominated. The remaining two seats either lie vacant or are given to the so-called National co-op bodies such as NCCF or NAFED.
“Behind the door planning at the cost of contributing Multi-State Cooperative Banks and the Credit Societies, it is being ensured that even these two seats are cornered yet again by “them” in the name of National Co-op bodies. It is unfortunate that the highest contributors are left to slug it out with about 125 member societies for a single representation”, alleges Dabas.
Additionally, Dabas has petitioned against clubbing of several important co-op sectors into one which includes now housing, dairy, sugar, consumer along with the weaker sectors such as labor, fisheries and tribal co-operatives. “This particular change has made his(Dabas) election all the more tough”, says a NCUI leader.
Dabas argues that these are important sectors and the new constituency has given two seats to them. It may happen so that the two seats are won from a single sector such as sugar or dairy or anyone, thereby denying representation to other important sectors.
The matter now lies in arbitration. While Dabas is hopeful of a favourable judgement, NCUI top bosses fret that the process has been delayed without much substance in the charges.