New taskforce to draw reform plans for co-ops

NEW DELHI: A taskforce, to be set up within a fortnight by the Centre, will coin a new blueprint for the future of cooperatives besides reviewing the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.

The decision, taken today at a meeting of state cooperatives ministers here, comes even as the Centre works towards bringing in a Constitution amendment Bill in the Budget session to buttress reforms in the sector.

Agriculture secretary Radha Singh said today that the proposed amendment could be in line with the 73rd Amendment that empowered the Panchayati raj institutions.

Today’s meeting of state cooperatives ministers, meanwhile, resolved that the proposed taskforce would set new targets and amend all pitfalls for the sector which recently completed 100 years of existence, particularly in view of the high financial unviability racking the sector at a time when it is poised to face the stiffest challenges in a changing global market scenario.

The brief for the taskforce is to focus on professionalism in auditing and general operations, besides reinforcing democratic and autonomous functioning on democratic, autonomous and professional functioning of the cooperatives.