The Punjab government department of cooperation has issued notification on 25.09.2023 levying government registration fee ranging from Rs one lac to 20 lacs on the registration of cooperative societies.
There are in total 32 types of co-ops where these fees would be applicable, according to the notification. Punjab Unit of Sahakar Bharti is opposing the notification as it says that the move is aimed at throttling the co-op movement in the state of Punjab. “We have sent a Memorandum to the CM Punjab to withdraw this notification”, said a member of Sahakar Bharati. The move will disallow the people of poor strata from joining co-op bodies.
The move is also against the 97th CAA which allowed forming co-op to be a fundamental right of the people. It is also against the seven co-op principles adopted and passed by ICA, say experts.