Marathe sees role of co-ops in insurance and electricity sectors

Satish Marathe who is often seen at all big co-operative gatherings these days would like co-operatives to play a big role in sectors such as Insurance, electricity and other related fields.

In a freewheeling chat with the Indian Cooperative team recently in Delhi at NCDC headquarters, Marathe quoted examples of foreign countries to support his argument. “In Japan, Latin America and many other countries cooperatives are playing a major role in the insurance sector”, Marathe asserted.

Explaining the benefits of being both members and consumers Marathe said ”take the example of electricity distribution- the incidence of theft and distribution losses would be limited once the cooperatives are given the job of distributing the power.

Marathe, however, lamented Indian co-operatives serious disadvantages when it comes to raising funds. Sahakar Bharati, of which he is the Parton has raised the issue through letters to the govt agencies.

Meanwhile, Marathe feels that co-operatives should go in for professionalization in a big way. “It makes a hell of a lot of difference as to how you run your enterprises”, he added. While educated and trained members can keep tabs on their activities, professional management can help plan the business better, Marathe opined.

Earlier, Sahakar Bharati Patron had mooted the idea of starting Co-operative Public Partnership in the country from the IFFCO podium on the occasion of Nehru Memorial Lecture. Marathe said the Public Private Partnership model (PPP) has not worked in the service sector on the expected lines and now it is time the government gave cooperative a chance.

We have seen the PPP model come to naught in areas such as water, electricity and transport with widespread dissatisfaction among consumers. Let us create new blueprints such as “Co-operative Public Partnership”, he said.