Even as the state unit of Sahakar Bharati has dismissed Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot much-touted Gram Sewa Co-op project, as useless, Gehlot has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enact provisions for remedial measures against the multi-state cooperative societies under the Central government’s administrative control.
Gehlot mentions a spate of police complaints from 73,000 investors mentioning irregularities in investments worth nearly Rs 1420 crore by the multi-state cooperative societies in the state. It bears recall that Adarsh Credit Co-op has its origin in Rajasthan only and a majority of the complaints, sources add, come from it.
Making a political point the CM says the amended Banking Regulation Act brought in by the centre not only runs counter to the principles of cooperatives but also interferes with the functioning of the state cooperative banks.
Expressing his helplessness as multi-state cooperative societies are under the administrative control of the Government of India, the CM asks the Centre to intervene.
Accusing Gehlot of paying lip service to the idea of cooperative movement, his detractors point out that there are 6,545 gram sewa cooperative societies across the state and the financial position of many societies is not so good.
Even the news of corruption and irregularities from few societies have hogged the media headlines. There is a need to strengthen the present societies which are working for the farmers, they said.
It is being reported that 60 percent of these societies are managed by the congress leaders and 40 per cent by the BJP workers.
It bears recall that Gehlot had instructed officials to constitute 2,000 gram sewa cooperative societies in the next four years so that crop loans, fertilisers and seeds are easily available to farmers. The decision was taken at a review meeting of various departments.
Gehlot instructed the officials to expedite the process of disbursing crop loan to farmers. He said more and more cooperative societies should be linked to these custom hiring centres.