Season of AGMs in Multi State Cooperative Societies has begun. AGMs are annual event when all the delegates from across the country come to participate in the meeting of Multi state cooperative societies.
NAFED, NCCF, KRIBHCO, NCUI and other multi state societies are going to have their AGM soon.
AGMs are notorious for being a routine and perfunctory affair, though in bylaws books it has right to recall and reject not only the Chairman but also the entire board of Directors.
The agenda of AGM is usually prepared in advance and sent to the delegates so that he or she discusses the issue at local level with all the participating societies.
Accounts of current year as well as that of coming year are passed in the AGM. If there is question of change in by laws, it is AGM only which has the power to do so.
But in practice AGM is usually under control of a few which usually includes Chairman, Managing Director and a few close associates. They read out the agenda and try to get it passed in great hurry.
Soon after, gifts are distributed to delegates and every one rush for lunch-thereby reducing the great democratic process into a farce.
Members are usually not allowed to speak out their mind as speakers are chosen in advance. Problems plaguing the cooperative are not put before the AGM and delegates are hardly given a chance to speak their mind on issues of corruption or favouratism being practiced in the name of cooperative movement.
Cooperative movement cannot succeed till democracy is practiced at its best.Indiancooperative.com wishes delegates to raise issue in unison against those who are belittling the name of cooperatives.
In this series we would bring out issues plaguing each multi state cooperative societies whose AGM is slated soon. And Indiancooperative .com would exhort the delegates to effectively raise their voice so that hanky-panky in cooperatives is stopped.
Delegates should recognize their power as it is because of them that cooperative is functioning. Small gifts are their anyway but nothing should stop them from fighting their cause. They can change the chairman and the entire board if only they remain united.