 "Transparency")
More than a year after a cooperatives ministry was formed with Home Minister Amit Shah as its head, the Cabinet on Wednesday approved extensive amendments to the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act (MSCS). The Act was last amended in 2002.
The amendments make the functioning of the board of such cooperatives transparent — registration becomes simpler and seats can be reserved for women, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe candidates in coop boards. Also, a Cooperative Election Authority can be formed to conduct free, fair and timely elections to coops.
India, at present, has nearly 800,000 cooperative societies of which around
