Report on Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Bill, 2013 tabled

Maharashtra government today tabled the Joint Select Committee's report on Maharashtra Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2013, in the Assembly.
The committee has suggested several changes including allowing a co-operative society member to continue as an active member even if he or she fails to attend at least one general body meeting in five years. Earlier, the proposal was to treat such members as 'inactive'.
Also, in a major relief to new members of co-operative societies, the committee said it would be unjust to deprive voting rights to those who had not completed three years as members.
The new rules have capped a society's managing committee size to 21 members and stipulated that the term of elected members would be five years. It would be mandatory for the co-operative society to reserve two seats for women members.

The panel has suggested that if any loss is caused to a co-operative credit society while implementing any government schemes or programmes, the government shall make available financial assistance to such a society on a priority basis.
Co-operation minister Harshvardhan Patil said co-operative societies in the state would have to conduct elections within six months of the close of financial year.
This is one of several amendments made to the Maharashtra Co-operatives Act, 1960, to bring it in consonance with the 97th amendment of the Constitution.
There are nearly 2.15 lakh co-operative societies in Maharashtra and the total membership of these societies is over 5 crore.