RSS arm to discuss inputs for cooperative policy

The RSS arm dedicated to the growth of cooperatives in the country has called a meeting of its members next month to decide on its final inputs to the national policy on cooperatives that the government is expected to bring out.

The Sahakar Bharati, in its show of support for home minister Amit Shah's announcement to revitalise cooperatives, has also planned a meeting of cooperatives from across the country in Lucknow in December, of which Shah could likely be a part, according to senior members of the body.

Among the top demands of the body is its insistence on states maintaining a three-tier cooperative bank structure to protect - specifically flagging the Kerala government abolishing the district cooperative banks as a matter of concern - growth and development of primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACs) in states.

The body has also demanded a centre for excellence dedicated to training and capacity building of cooperatives and cooperators.

Uday Joshi, the national general secretary of Sahakar Bharati, said: "Shah has called for a review of policies we thought were not relevant in the Indian context. In July, we had a very fruitful meeting with him in which we had raised several issues. There have been no amendments to the National Cooperative Policy since the time of Vajpayeeji...We are looking at ways to expand and deepen the cooperative network, for which we have started the process of collecting the feedback."

Joshi said that over the next two months the body has planned a series of meetings of its members and allied bodies at to consolidate inputs for the policy to be given to the Centre.