By Vidyadhar Anaskar
Chairman, Administrative Board, Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank
India’s social, economic and cultural fabric has always been rooted in collective effort. Progress achieved together, rather than individually, has been the foundation of our civilisation. The modern expression of this age-old ethos is the cooperative movement. Cooperation is not merely an economic arrangement; it is a value-based social philosophy aimed at collective welfare.
Just as every nation has its own culture, cooperation too has a distinct culture. Its most important feature is democratic control, members are the owners and members are the decision-makers. Corruption, deception and exploitation have no place in true cooperative functioning. Training members and improving their financial and professional literacy strengthen public trust, deepen unity and make the cooperative sector more resilient than both the private and public sectors.
The culture of cooperation rests on trust, transparency, honesty and continuity. It strengthens society economically while reinforcing social bonds. The spirit of “we” rather than “I” is the real strength of cooperation, making it a powerful instrument for inclusive development.
Today, several reasons are cited for the decline of cooperatives, insufficient capital, lack of skilled manpower or inadequate government support. However, deeper reflection reveals that the real cause is the failure to uphold and preserve cooperative culture, leading to erosion of public trust. When people begin to say that “anything can happen in a cooperative today,” it is a warning sign. All stakeholders must therefore commit themselves to nurturing cooperative values.
Visionaries such as Vaikunthbhai Mehta and Dhananjayrao Gadgil clearly articulated cooperative principles, while dedicated leaders like Vithalrao Vikhe Patil, Vasantdada Patil and Ratnappa Kumbhar embedded cooperative culture through personal integrity and discipline. The legacy of leaders such as Sangli’s Gulabrao Patil demonstrates how ethical leadership builds strong institutions.
The success of a cooperative institution is ultimately the success of its leadership. Leadership need not be political, but it must be firmly grounded in cooperative values. In today’s context, visionary leadership supported by honest functionaries can ensure rapid progress of cooperative institutions.
Unfortunately, practices such as poaching resources from neighbouring cooperatives, turning annual general meetings into entertainment events, disorder, inducements to members and political interference are clear deviations from cooperative culture. The intention here is not to accuse or criticise individuals, but to express concern as a lifelong cooperative worker who regards cooperation as a public trust.
Members are owners only on paper if they remain uninformed and untrained. Educating members, encouraging critical thinking and empowering them to question leadership decisions must be central to a renewed cooperative movement. Just as the cooperative movement emerged to free farmers from exploitative moneylenders, a new movement to restore cooperative culture must arise to counter growing self-interest within the sector.
As the International Year of Cooperatives is being observed, and as the Ministry of Cooperation works towards strengthening the sector, it is essential for every cooperative worker to introspect honestly. Mere criticism will not suffice. What is required is a collective resolve to restore purity, autonomy and professionalism in cooperation.
True pride in cooperation must be reaffirmed. Excessive politicisation, treating cooperatives as private fiefdoms, and weakening them in favour of commercial interests threaten their very foundation. Over the last 75 years, it is time to honestly assess whether the cooperative movement has achieved its intended social and economic objectives.
Only by acknowledging past mistakes and recommitting ourselves to cooperative principles can we design a future roadmap that truly empowers members and society at large. For this, launching a sustained movement to nurture and protect cooperative culture is not just desirable, it is essential for the survival and revival of cooperation.
