The Odisha government has got two bills on cooperatives recently passed by the state assembly. The two bills have become Acts as governor has given his assent to them.
Earlier the state govt had promulgated an ordinance repealing Odisha self-help cooperative Act, 2001. The ordinance had sought to lump together all cooperative organizations under one cooperative Act.
In the changed context, all self-help groups will have to amend their articles of associations and recast their boards or failing that would be taken over by the registrar of cooperative societies as per the provisions of the cooperative societies Act, 1962.
Sources say a large number of cooperative societies in Odisha are engaging in illegal activities such as chit fund and this Act will help govt cleanse them.