In a fresh bid the Parliamentary Panel has sought suggestions from public to fine-tune the amendments in Multi-State Cooperatie Societies Act.
Cooperative leaders are ambivalent on the proposed amendment with some seeing it as attack on the democratic structure of cooperative societies. Others see in it an opportunity to address cooperative leaders high-handedness in which a few gather to decide the fate of millions.
Democracy deficit has been one of the major problems facing the cooperative societies in the country. It is against this background that the multi-state cooperative society’s amendment bill has been referred to the parliament’s standing committee on agriculture.
The bill seeks to amend the multi-state cooperative societies act 2002 changing the way of running the cooperative organizations so that the members in them are more equal and able to share in the decision-making process. That is to say, the bill aims at infusion of democracy into the cooperative organizations.
According to official statement, the standing committee has sought suggestions and ideas from the general public as well as the institutions and bodies that have stakes in the cooperative societies.
The bill not only provides for election of members to the board of multi-state cooperative societies but also for reservation for SC, ST and women.
The official statement added the bill would make the societies accountable to its members through the constitution of an interim board, accounting standards, constitution of Audit and Ethics Committee, calling for information or explanation by the Central Registrar of the Multi State Cooperative Societies and special audit.
The proposed act also provides for appointment of Cooperative Information Officer, Chief Information Officer, information about the affairs and management of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies.