Delay creating hurdles in revival of cooperative movement
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 13: Due to non-seriousness on the part of those at the helm of affairs in the Cooperative Department, the announcement regarding making Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989 and J&K Self Reliant Cooperative Societies Act, 1999 more effective by way of necessary amendments has remained confined to the official files during the past over 11 months. This is notwithstanding the fact that unless these legislations are modified as per the present day needs the cooperative movement cannot be revived in the State.
Moreover, elections have not been held for the Managing Committee of Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (JAKFED), an apex level cooperative federation, during the past over one decade despite the fact that elections are mandatorily required to be conducted by the Cooperatives Department after every three year.
Out of 3000 registered cooperative societies in Jammu and Kashmir only 988 are functioning at present while remaining are lying defunct. There is three-tier structure of cooperative societies—primary tier– consisting of primary level societies at village/block level having individuals as members, secondary tier consisting of marketing societies at block/tehsil level having primary level societies as their members and Apex Level Societies at State/Divisional level having marketing societies and primary level societies as their members
Keeping in view large number of cooperative societies remaining defunct during the past quite long time and creating hurdles in reviving cooperative movement in the State, the Government early this year found it appropriate to remodel both the Acts by way of carrying out necessary amendments as per the present day needs, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Accordingly, on the directions of Minister for Cooperatives Chering Dorjey, Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Cooperatives Department vide Government Order No.02-Coop of 2017 dated January 10, 2017 constituted a committee with the mandate to undertake thorough review of the existing Acts and come up with a workable amended Cooperative Societies Act enabling the Government to get the legislation passed by the State Legislature during the Budget Session, which was going on at that time.
There was specific direction to the committee to propose large scale modifications of relevant rules, amalgamation, bifurcation and reorganization of the Cooperative Societies on modern lines which would fit in with the present day needs, sources said.
However, the committee failed to complete the assigned task within the period desired by the Government as a result of which the Minister for Cooperatives Chering Dorjey had to simply mention in his statement on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on January 24, 2017 that Government was contemplating to prepare a Model Act which can govern all types of cooperative institutions.
“Even after the lapse of 11 months the committee has not come up with the modifications required to be carried out in the Acts to revive cooperative movement in the State”, sources informed, adding “in view of dilly-dallying approach of the committee in accomplishing the assigned task there are remote chances of Government bringing amendment bill in the Budget Session which is likely to begin in January next year”.
When contacted, Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Cooperatives Department Bashir Ahmed Bhat confirmed that committee has not submitted any draft of the amendments required to be carried out in the Acts even after having several rounds of meetings both in Jammu and Srinagar.
When asked whether in the next Budget Session the department would be able to move amendment bill, he said, “hopefully we will be able to do so”. He, however, added that on the receipt of proposed amendments the department will put the same in the public domain for inviting objections and suggestions. Thereafter, the draft bill will be placed before the Cabinet for approval and only then it would be tabled in the Legislature.
Moreover, the Cooperatives Department has failed to conduct elections for the Managing Committee of Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (JAKFED), an apex level cooperative federation, during the past over one decade.
“The last elections were convened in 2003 and the term of Managing Committee expired in 2006 but thereafter no seriousness was shown to get the fresh elections conducted”, sources said.
Stating that non-seriousness is still prevailing on this aspect, they said that the Government vide Order No.17-Coop of 2017 dated May 16, 2017 had constituted Managing Committee for administration of the affairs of the JAKFED for a period of three months. In the meanwhile, it was directed that process of holding elections shall be completed expeditiously.
However, despite the lapse of six months the process has not been completed as a result of which the term of the Managing Committee had to be extended for further few months. “This speaks of non-seriousness in holding elections to major Federation”, sources remarked.
When asked about the reasons behind the delay in this regard, the Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Cooperatives Department said, “basically there are certain issues relating to Electoral College of the Federation and once the same are resolved the elections will be held”. He, however, failed to specify any time-frame for the same.
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