The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture has invited comments and suggestions on the Constitution (111th Amendment) Bill, 2009, which has been referred to it, within three weeks .
The Bill proposes to incorporate a new part (part IXB) in the Constitution so as to provide for a legal framework to regulate the functioning of co-operative societies like democratic, autonomous and professional functioning.
A new article (Article 43B) is also proposed to be inserted in part IV of the Constitution (Directive Principles of State Policy) for the states to endeavour to promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of cooperative societies.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on November 30, 2009 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture, headed by Mr Basudeb Achariya, for examination and report to Parliament.
The Committee has invited individuals, institutions and organisations interested in the subject matter of the Bill to send in written memoranda containing their suggestions, views and comments.
Those who wish to appear before the Committee, besides submitting memoranda, are requested to specifically indicate so, an official press release added.