OTHER DEPARTMENTS

CO-OPERATIVE DEPARTMENT

CO-OPERATION.

The activities of the Co-operative department extend to the fields of rural finance, agricultural marketing, industrial cooperatives and money-lending business in the district. These activities are governed under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1961.

Organisation.

Prior to the establishment of the Zilla Parishad, Co-operative department in Sangli district consisted of four different wings viz., (i) Co-operative Section (proper), (ii) Industrial Co-operatives Section, (iii) Money-lending Section and (iv) Marketing Section. These sections worked more or less independently of each other and hence there was no proper co-ordination. There was also some overlapping of functions. To remedy such anomalies Government overhauled the old set up in 1961 which ensured co-ordination as also integration of the activities of the various departments.

With the formation of the Zilla Parishad, Co-operation has come under the dual control of the Zilla Parishad and the State Government. The Co-operative department of the Zilla Parishad is responsible for the registration, organisation, supervision, inspection, etc., of all types of co-operative societies in rural areas, having authorised share capital up to Rs. 50,000 or working capital up to Rs. 5 lakhs. It has also to supervise and control all regulated markets. All those schemes which do not come within the sphere of the Zilla Parishad are looked after by the department in the State sector.

The department at the State level is headed by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Maharashtra State, Poona. At the Divisional level is the Divisional Joint Registrar who is generally assisted by a Divisional Deputy Registrar and three Divisional Assistant Registrars. Audit section is placed in charge of the Divisional Special Auditor.

The district is placed in charge of the District Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Sangli. He is assisted in his work by two Assistant Registrars whose jurisdiction extends over areas specified by the District Deputy Registrar after taking account of the actual workload. In addition there are Co-operative Officers, Assistant Co-operative Officers, Supervisors and other ministerial staff who assist in the execution of field duties. The Assistant Registrars enjoy all powers under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1961, except those under Sections 64 and 64-A of the former Act of 1925 which has been replaced by the 1961 Act. They also act as Assistant Registrars of Money Lenders within their respective jurisdictions.

With the formation of the Zilla Parishad one of the four Assistant Registrars (including one dairy organiser), one Cooperative Officer and one Assistant Co-operative Officer from the field staff were transferred to it.

The department at the district level now includes the following staff: -

(1) Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Class I with his jurisdiction extending over Walva, Shirala and Khanapur talukas and

(2) Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, with his jurisdiction extending over Miraj, Jath and Tasgaon talukas.

The field staff consists of two Co-operative Officers and three Assistant Co-operative Officers working on functional basis. At the taluka level there are 17 Co-operative Supervisors including four Supervisors for Paddy Pilot work. Under the revised set up, the Assistant Registrars look after all matters pertaining to the co-operative movement with the help of field staff under them. For technical help, especially in matters relating to the industrial and lift irrigation societies, one mechanical supervisor, one assistant co-operative officer for incomplete lift irrigation schemes and one powerloom jobber have been placed at the disposal of the District Deputy Registrar.

With the passing of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, and the rules made thereunder, the audit section has been bifurcated and a District Special Auditor for Co-operative Societies has been appointed with independent audit staff under him.

Accomplishments.

The co-operative movement in Sangli district has so far made good progress. The following are the noteworthy achievements made in the district during the post-war period;

(i) Registration of Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, Ltd., Sangli.

(ii) Establishment of Industrial Estates at Sangli, Miraj, Tasgaon and Islampur.

(iii) Registration of Groundnut Producers Society (which is a novel experiment on co-operative basis) and organisation of feeder societies.

(iv) Organisation of Krishna Valley Milk Project by the Dairy Development Department with feeder societies and

(v) District Co-operative Land Development (Mortgage) Bank for Sangli District.

The following statement shows the progress made by the cooperative movement in Sangli districr

STATEMENT SHOWING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN SANGLI DISTRICT

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