Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha that the Cooperative Ombudsman has received more than 38,000 complaints from members of Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCSs), while the Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) has successfully conducted elections in over 281 MSCSs, marking significant progress in cooperative governance reforms.
In a written reply, Shah said the Cooperative Ombudsman was appointed under Section 85A of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002, following amendments to the Act and a Gazette notification issued on March 5, 2024.
The Ombudsman’s office is fully operational and handles complaints and appeals relating to deposits, equitable benefits and other issues affecting the individual rights of members. According to the Minister, over 38,000 complaints had been received till July 17, 2026, with most of them addressed through 44 orders.
Shah further said the Cooperative Election Authority, also established following the amendments to the MSCS Act, has been mandated to ensure free and fair elections in Multi-State Cooperative Societies.
As of July 16, 2026, the Authority had successfully conducted elections in more than 281 MSCSs, strengthening transparency, accountability and democratic governance in the cooperative sector.
