The pernicious amendment made to strangulate the urban cooperative banks’ democratic set-up in Rajasthan came in for a lot of sharp criticism at the Nafcub AGM with Jyotindra Mehta its President assuring delegates Nafcub would not be seen lagging behind in standing with them on the issue.
Earlier, Mohan Parasar, the Vice Chairman of Rajasthan Chapter of NAFCUB gave a detailed description of the amendment introduced by the Vasundhara Raje govt in Rajasthan and sought NAFCUB’s help in wriggling out of it.
“Introduced in April 2016 this amendment has all the necessary clauses to bring urban cooperative banks into the government fold. It says the BoD can be dissolved, inspection of ucb can be made without sending any notice. An administrator could be imposed without batting an eyelid making a mockery of the democratic set up of urban cooperative banks”, said Parasar.
Parasar also said that ” there is provision of compulsory appointment of administration as soon as the BoD completes its tenure. Even the Malegam Committee recommended that only professional administrator should be appointed but here we see inspectors taking over which is quite insulting,” underlined Parasar.
Referring to the 97th CAA Parasar reminded delegates unless govt has stakes in banks it cannot interfere. There are only 1-2 UCBs which are dependent on govt one way and another”, he added.
Talking about the other provisions he said a cooperator has been barred from fighting election after two terms. Also if one is office bearer of any other body say Municipal corporation or a Panchaayt he cannot fight elections to co-operatives, he said.
The worst of all is- the amendment mandates eligibilities for becoming a member of urban cooperative bank- a clear violation of the 97th CAA which says forming co-op is one’s Fundamental Right, he concluded.
The cooperative department has already begun exercising control over nine urban cooperative banks. There are 37 UCBs in Rajasthan and many more would fall under the govt sway as their elections are due this December.
