The Thanjavur Consumers Cooperative Wholesale Stores, a cooperative institution that has impacted the daily life of all sections of society for the past 75 years, is celebrating its platinum jubilee anniversary by firming up a five-year plan to shore up its finances, according to a report from the Hindu.
It commenced its commercial operations in 1940 with 16 members with a share capital of Rs 390. Now, it has 2,634 members with a share capital of Rs. 41.14 lakh.
Under its control, there are 70 fair price shops in urban areas of the city through which the premier cooperative institution is channelising 1,137 tonnes of rice, 144 tonnes of sugar, 39 tonnes of wheat, 54 tonnes of toor dhal and 57,000 litres of palm oil every month to the attached 72,636 family cards.
Besides, there are six kerosene banks in the city limits in its fold through which 29,444 family card holders were getting 75,870 litre of kerosene a month.
Serving as the lead society, the TCCWS has been facilitating supply of essential commodities to 2,00,315 family card holders attached to 467 fair price shops functioning under the aegis of 126 primary agricultural cooperative credit societies in Thanjavur, Orathanad, Pattukkottai, Peravurani and Tiruvaiyaru taluks.
There are 119 employees against the sanctioned cadre strength of 133 and a democratically elected Board of Directors in administering the TCCWS.