Rajya Sabha approved the Constitution amendment bill seeking to make the right to form cooperative societies a Fundamental Right on Wednesday.
The bill was approved by the Lok Sabha on December 22.
Participating in the debate, Balavant Apte (BJP) said that mere constitutional status to cooperative societies will not help them, but an action plan is required.
On the provision for setting up a specialised agency for conducting elections in societies, Apte said it would not be possible to monitor all elections as there are lakhs of
cooperative societies.
E M Sudarsana Natchiappan (Cong) said cooperative societies are necessary for the socio-economic development of the country.
Opposing the amendment, P Rajeeve (CPI-M) said the Centre is trying to encroach upon the rights of state governments to make legislations in regard to cooperative societies.
S P Singh Baghel (BSP) said because of undue government interference, the cooperative societies are not prospering. He also suggested that members of a society should directly elect their chairman.