New Co-op Ministry might boost growth of multi-state co-op societies

This would bring much-needed transparency and fairness in the functioning of the cooperatives, which so far have been riddled with charges of political interference and mismanagement, say experts

The Centre’s decision to carve out a separate ministry of cooperation from the agriculture ministry might not only boost creation of multi-state cooperatives in the country, but also bring much-needed transparency and fairness in the functioning of the cooperatives, which so far have been riddled with allegations of political interference and mismanagement, experts and sector watchers said.

India at present has a vast network of around 800,000 registered cooperative societies with whom around 400 million people are directly associated.

However, of these societies, only about 1,500 are multi-state set-ups that function in more than one state.

These cooperatives span a