Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) Rabindra Agarwal and Cooperative Election Authority’s D.K. Singh chaired a crucial meeting last week at the CRCS office to discuss cooperative elections and amendments to bye-laws.
Representatives from national-level cooperative federations attended the meeting, which primarily focused on ensuring that multi-state cooperative societies amend their bye-laws in line with election rules. Participants emphasized the need for greater clarity in election procedures to enhance transparency in the cooperative sector.
A key decision was that multi-state cooperative societies must revise their bye-laws as per election regulations and submit them to the CRCS for approval. This step aims to streamline election processes and reinforce democratic governance within cooperatives.
The meeting saw active participation from prominent cooperative leaders, including IFFCO General Manager (Cooperative Development) Santosh Shukla, NCUI’s Ved Prakash Setia, Kribhco’s L.P. Goodwin, NLCF MD Vinay Kumar Chauhan, and Nafcub CEO Yogesh Sharma, among others.
The Cooperative Election Authority is committed to conducting cooperative elections in a free, fair, and transparent manner. Before the establishment of the Union Ministry of Cooperation and the Election Authority, cooperative elections were often influenced by state-level political interference. This weakened democratic processes and limited cooperatives’ autonomy.
However, with a dedicated ministry and a specialized election authority in place, cooperatives are now witnessing a shift toward greater independence and accountability. These reforms aim to empower cooperative members by ensuring a more transparent and impartial election system, strengthening the sector’s democratic framework.
