The Maharashtra Government has initiated the process of revising its State Cooperative Policy in line with the National Cooperative Policy 2025. The first meeting of the committee formed for this purpose was held on Monday at the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSC Bank) headquarters in Mumbai, under the chairmanship of Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil.
The meeting aimed to lay the groundwork for a new, forward-looking cooperative policy focusing on transparency, efficiency, and the empowerment of farmers, women, and youth through cooperative institutions.
During the session, the Maharashtra Cooperative Commissioner presented a PowerPoint presentation on the National Cooperative Policy, outlining its framework and objectives. He also shared an outline of the approach and key areas for revising the State Cooperative Policy for preliminary discussion.
However, sources indicated that the meeting was largely introductory and procedural, with no major decisions or detailed deliberations taking place. Participants suggested that department-wise meetings be organised in the coming weeks to address sector-specific concerns more effectively.
Soon after the meeting, while talking to the Indian Cooperative, MSC Bank Administrative Board Chairman Vidyadhar Anaskar said that all committee members present in the meeting were asked to deeply study the National Cooperative Policy and identify areas requiring state-level modifications.
“We need to decide whether the state policy should promote cross-sector collaboration. Also, while political participation is necessary, cooperation should remain free from political interference,” he observed.
Anaskar further emphasized that efforts should also be made to change the mindset of people working in the cooperative sector. “We must work on developing a positive and progressive outlook among cooperative stakeholders through training and awareness programmes,” he added.
RBI Board Member and veteran cooperative leader Satish Marathe also attended the meeting, along with Maharashtra Cooperative Credit Societies Federation Chairman Kakasaheb Koyte, who raised concerns over the limited focus on credit societies in the National Policy. “The policy has considered PACS, but in Maharashtra, credit cooperatives play a crucial role and must be given due attention,” Koyte stressed.
The deliberations concluded with a consensus that sector-specific consultations-particularly involving PACS, credit societies, and cooperative federations-are essential before finalising the state’s revised cooperative policy.
A key concern raised during the discussion was the tight timeline set for the state-level revision. While the National Cooperative Policy took nearly three years to frame, the committee has been given just three months to finalise the Maharashtra State Cooperative Policy, prompting members to seek an extension of the deadline.