BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE

CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT

History of the co-operative movement in the district could be traced to the registration of Tadavale Co-operative Thrift and Credit Society in Barshi taluka in the year 1904. Since then the movement is gaining ground in the rural population. Similar types of societies were formed in all important villages in the district. In the earliest stages of the movement the societies had no share-capital and were mainly run with the funds collected from the members and non-members by way of savings and deposits. Deposits then had a special significance in view of the fact that there was no Central Financing Agency to supplement the funds of these societies. The movement then was concerned mainly with provision of credit to the needy agriculturists and had largely to rely upon local savings. Credit was inseparable from thrift. With the changes in the economic organisation of society and the imperatives of the pressing economic conditions it was widely felt that co-operation is the best alternative to achieve economic emancipation of the masses. This led to codification and enactment of laws on co-operation which further developed the organisational and financial structure of co-operative societies. The system of share-capital was introduced, central co-operative banks were established and non-credit co-operatives also came into existence. Most of the societies were single-purpose societies. The emphasis was particularly on small-sized societies with a membership not exceeding 100. The single-purpose societies were found mainly to cater to the needs of credit, supply of agricultural implements and other requisites, as well as for co-operative farming and marketing. In due course supervisory and marketing societies, federal unions operating at taluka level came into existence. The multi-purpose societies which cater to the various needs of the agriculturists gained ground and replaced the traditional single-purpose small-sized societies. During the year 1958 the resolution passed by the National Development Council changed the outlook of credit societies in general, the multi-purpose societies and credit societies forging ahead to form themselves into service co-operatives.

Since the beginning of the Third Five-Year Plan, the emphasis has been shifted from expansion to consolidation and development of the potentialities of co-operative societies as an instrument of economic development. The co-operative movement now embraces various aspects of economic activities such as extension of agricultural credit and development of agricultural processing, marketing of agricultural produce and formation of milk unions.

Of the total plan outlay the total expenditure incurred over the development of co-operation during the Third Five-Year Plan period amounted to Rs. 20.17 lakhs. The co-operative movement received a better accord in terms of financial outlay and organisational efforts during the Third Plan. Efforts were undertaken to strengthen the co-operative structure for discharging its vital function in providing supplies and services to the cultivators. These measures included share-capital contributions to the apex institutions, grant of management subsidy, out-right grants to service co-operatives and District Central Co-operative Bank to meet their demands, and grant of subsidy to District Central Co-operative Bank and Land Development Bank for opening new branches. As a result of these measures the amount of short and medium term finance provided through co-operatives increased considerably during the Third Plan period.

Co-operative movement embraces several economic activities such as rural credit, distribution of agricultural inputs, agricultural marketing, processing and agro-industries. The Fourth Five-Year Plan envisages to bring all the inhabited villages under the fold of co-operation. It is planned to achieve the target of 2,100 co-operative societies with a membership of 2.92 lakhs by the end of the plan. During the year 1972-73 there were 2,082 societies with a membership of 2.70 lakhs. The total amount distributed by way of loans amounted to Rs. 83,228 thousands in 1972-73, which means an advance of Rs. 72 per hectare of cultivated area in the district, as against the State average of Rs. 73.

At the beginning of the Fourth Plan there were 68 co-operative farming societies in the district. This number has now decreased to 62 covering 3,580 hectares of agricultural land. The Fourth Five-Year Plan had envisaged to spend Rs. 3.29 lakhs by way of financial assistance to co-operative farming societies, for advancing loans for land development, construction of wells, installation of oil-engines and pump sets.

Table No. 3 shows the outlay and expenditure on co-operatives in Sholapur district.

During the Fifth Five-Year Plan agricultural credit would continue to be an important measure for increasing production The basic approach would be one of consolidation and strengthening of the integrated institutional structure. A provision of Rs. 15 lakhs has been made in the District Plan towards extending contribution to share-capital of 100 societies, and towards paying interest subsidy to 500 societies. Institutional finance for crops from various agencies is estimated to be as follows:—Rs. 800 lakhs from the Sholapur District Central Co-operative Bank, Rs. 200 lakhs from Seva Societies and Rs. 100 lakhs from scheduled banks in the district. Similarly medium and long term finance would become available from various financial institutions in the district to the extent of Rs. 4,644.20 lakhs for agricultural development. The District Plan also envisages to extend assistance to sale and purchase societies and godowns.

Table No. 4 gives the statistics of the agricultural and non-agricultural credit and non-credit societies since 1916 to 1925 in Sholapur district.

Table No. 5 shows the development of co-operative movement in Sholapur district during 1950-51, 1960-61, 1966-67, 1970-71, 1971-72 and 1972-73.

The structural and functional aspects of different types of co-operative societies are described in the ensuing pages.

Sholapur District Central Co-operative Bank: The Sholapur District Central Co-operative Bank was registered at district headquarters in March 1918, and has been working as a federal financing agency catering for the credit requirements of all the primary credit societies in the district. Since 1962 the Sholapur Zilla Parishad also transacts its financial business through this bank. There were in all 37 branch offices of this bank by the end of 1972-73 in the district.

The following statement shows the position of the District Central Co-operative Bank in 1968-69 and 1971-72:—

The following figures show the progress and financial position of the bank:—

DISTRICT CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE BANK, SHOLAPUR

Sholapur District Land Development Bank Limited: The Sholapur District Land Development Bank was established in 1959 with a view to providing long-term finance to cultivators. With the intention of smooth distribution and recovery of loans, the bank opened 11 branches, one each at every taluka place. The head office of the bank, situated at Ahmadnagar, looks after the working of the branch offices. Activities of the bank are to give long-term loans for agricultural purposes, mainly to construct new wells, to renovate old wells, and to purchase oil-engines for irrigation purposes. The particulars about the activities of the bank during 1962-63 and 1963-64 are given in the following statement:—

LOANS GIVEN BY SHOLAPUR DISTRICT LAND DEVELOPMENT BANK

The bank distributed long-term loans for construction of wells, renovation of old wells and purchase of oil-engines during the years 1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67 and 1967-68 amounting to Rs.61,78,000, Rs. 96,47,000, Rs. 83,99,100, and Rs. 1,46,44,000 respectively.

The following statement gives the statistics regarding the targets and achievements of the bank under various heads of development in 1968-69:—

* Figures are for electric motors.

During the year 1968-69, the bank distributed loans amounting to Rs. 1,62,60,000 for the above purposes.

The following statement shows the achievements of the bank since 1965-66 to 1968-69 and 1971-72: —

* Figures for the year 1971-72 are given in lakhs of rupees.

Sholapur District Industrial Co-operative Bank Limited: The bank was established in the year 1948 with the main object of financing the industrial co-operatives. The need for organising a separate district industrial co-operative bank to finance industrial co-operatives was keenly felt, especially, because the central co-operative bank operating in the district was reluctant to sanction loans to artisans and societies, in the absence of the required security.

During the initial stages the bank was very much short of funds as it had still to earn the confidence of the general public for attracting their deposits. Effective leadership and managerial skill however encouraged its further development.

The following statistics give an idea about the progress made by the bank during 1967-68, 1968-69 and 1972-73:—

Other industrial co-operative societies received cash credit to the tune of Rs. 13,44,017, mortgage loan Rs. 4,27,284 and Hundi limit loan Rs. 23,000 from the bank in 1968-69. In addition to this, the bank granted loans to power-looms as follows:—cash credit Rs. 48,35,600, mortgage loan Rs. 4,05,850, and Hundi limit loan Rs. 4,80,000 in the same year. During the same year the bank lent Rs. 12 lakhs to the Sholapur Urban Industrial Co-operative Bank. Under the scheme of Khadi Gramodyog Board, the bank sanctioned loans amounting to Rs. 90,674 to oil mills. At the end of the year 1968-69 the outstanding loans of the bank with weavers' co-operatives and other co-operative societies stood at Rs. 3,21,595 and Rs. 5,09,830, respectively.

Urban Banks and Credit Societies: There are in all 121 urban banks and credit societies in the district. Of them, 10 are urban banks, 9 urban credit societies, 77 salary earners' societies, 20 factory workers' societies and 5 sugar and other factory workers' societies. These banks and societies are functioning not only in urban areas but also in rural areas, and serve the need of regular credit at reasonable rates of interest. In addition to financing loans to members these societies and banks also undertake the distribution of consumer goods to their members and other public.

The following statement shows the working and progress of these banks and societies during the years 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69:—

The following statement shows the working and progress achieved by the urban banks in Sholapur district during 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69 and 1972-73:—

N.A.=Not available.

Thus during the year 1967-68, the share-capital of these banks increased by one lakh 19 thousands over that in 1966-67 while the year 1968-69 witnessed an increase of Rs. 2,40,000 over 1967-68. However there was no substantial increase in the amount of loan recoveries during the period.

Table No. 6 shows the progress and working of co-operative societies in Sholapur district in the year 1972-73.

The following statement shows the progress and working of the urban credit societies during the years 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69 and 1972-73:—

N. A.=Not available.

The above figures show that there was not a noteworthy increase in the amount of share-capital during the three years. The reserve and other funds increased by seven thousands and the working capital by six thousands in the year 1968-69 over those of the previous year. The loans to be received did not register any increase but there was a decrease in the amount of loans due.

Salary Earners' Credit Societies: The following statement shows the working and progress of the salary earners' societies in the district for the years 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69:—

N. A. = Not available.

Salary earners' credit societies form a larger percentage of urban credit co-operative societies. The salary earners' societies include mainly the credit societies of employees in Government. semi-Government, educational institutions and voluntary social institutions.

Factory workers' credit societies: Table No. 7 furnishes the statistics about the working of the factory workers' credit co-operative societies during 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Sugar and other factory workers' credit societies: There are live credit societies of this type in the district. Of these, two societies were registered in 1968-69. The progress and working of these societies is revealed in Table No. 8.

Agricultural credit societies: Agricultural credit societies form the backbone of the co-operative movement. Functioning of these societies has been re-oriented since the beginning of the Third Five-Year Plan, to meet the imperative of increasing agricultural production by supplying the required inputs. Besides giving cash credit to the farmers, these societies help them in procurement of fertilisers, seeds, pesticides and implements. Of late, greater stress is laid by these societies on provision of other supplies like chemical fertilisers, modernised implements and means of transport to the members.

These societies constitute the bulk of co-operative credit societies. They raise funds through entrance fees, shares, deposits, loans and donations. They undertake to supply to the agriculturists short-term finance for meeting expenses on seed, manure, weeding, etc., and medium-term finance for the purchase of bullock-carts, iron implements and for repayment of old debts.

The main object of agricultural credit societies which are also known as primary societies is to cater to the financial needs of the agriculturists as regards increasing production. It was however realised that the large-sized multi-purpose societies would serve the purpose in a better manner than the small-sized primary societies. The multipurpose societies serve the peasantry in many ways starting with credit for current needs. They help supplying the necessary agricultural inputs and marketing of agricultural produce. They also improve the out-turn of crops by consolidation of holdings, supply of pure seeds and implements and supplement the income of its members by inducing them to take to subsidiary industries.

In order to extend the scope of the agricultural credit or multipurpose societies, they are being converted into what are known as seva societies or service co-operatives. The seva societies were being organised since 1959-60 following the recommendations of the National Development Council.

The object of these societies was to provide credit for agricultural operations, purchase of raw materials, etc. Among other activities these societies were to pool the agricultural produce of members and to arrange to sell it through marketing societies to which they were affiliated. These service co-operatives cover all economic activities of the rural population so as to create a cohesive, self-reliant and prosperous village community. These societies undertake distribution of seeds, manures, insecticides, etc. and also cater to the domestic needs of the village community.

There were in all 892 agricultural credit societies in the district in the year 1968-69. Out of these, 8 were Bruhat co-operatives, two agricultural credit societies, ten multi-purpose co-operatives and 872 service co-operative societies.

Table No. 9 gives the details about the working of these societies during 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Co-operative Farming Societies: The proverbial poverty of the peasant has always been a stumbling block in the way of prosperity of agriculture. Apart from the economic misery of the small land-holder, there has been the acute problem of the landless labourer who, by virtue of his chronic poverty is at the bottom of the rural socioeconomic structure. It is against this background that the co-operative farming movement was accepted as a tool for the amelioration of the small holders and landless labourers during the post-Independence period.

As per Government policy, the cultivable waste and forest lands are leased out to the landless labourers who are required to form co-operative farming societies and register them under the Maharashtra State Co-operative Societies Act, 1960. All available lands in the district are also brought under the co-operative fold and about 62 co-operative farming societies are functioning under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act of 1960.

There were in all 64 and 62 co-operative farming societies in the district in June 1969 and 1972-73. [For details of co-operative farming societies refer to Chapter 4.]

Co-operative Consumers' Societies: There were 49 co-operative consumers' societies in the district at the beginning of the year 1972-73. There are central co-operative consumers' stores at Sholapur and Barshi, and primary co-operative consumers' stores at Pandharpur, Akkalkot, Kurduwadi, Karmala, Mangalwedha, Mohol and Akluj. Descriptive information of some of the co-operative stores is furnished below.

Sholapur Central Co-operative Consumers' Store: The institution suffered a loss of Rs. 2,11,450 during the year ending with June 1968. The sales of the institution decreased to a considerable extent due to this, and it had to close down its 11 branches in the different parts of the district. There were nine branches of this institution in the year ending with June 1969. Its total number of members was 5,002 in the same year. The total share-capital of the institution including Government's capital was Rs. 4,68,654. The working capital was Rs. 13,63,971 in 1969, and it suffered a loss of Rs. 92,780 during the same year.

Barshi Central Co-operative Consumers' Store: There are seven branches of the institution including wholesale depot, canteen and general stores in the district. The membership of the institution stood at 1,715 in the year ending with June 1969. The working capital of the institution was Rs. 2,28,187 in the year ending with 1969. It earned a profit of Rs. 2,363 in the same year.

Primary Co-operative Consumers' Stores: There are seven primary co-operative consumers' stores in the district. They are established at places having a population above 10,000. These stores purchase their requisites from the Sholapur Central Co-operative Store. The financial position of all these stores for the year 1968-69 is shown in Table No. 10.

Co-operative Housing Societies: There were in all 121 co-operative housing societies in the district. In view of the acute housing problem in cities and towns, the Government has been encouraging the construction of houses under the co-operative fold. For this purpose, it gives loans and subsidies to enable co-operatives to build new houses. Of the 121 societies, 55 belonged to backward class people, which were classified as under:—32 for backward class people, 17 for nomadic tribes and 6 for other backward classes.

The total number of members of these societies stood at 5,075 in the year 1968-69, while the total share-capital was Rs. 12.06 lakhs and working capital Rs. 31.43 lakhs in the same year. Government sanctioned a loan of Rs. 9.56 lakhs and subsidy of Rs. 5.06 lakhs to the backward class societies. Up to 1968-69 these societies constructed 995 houses at the cost of Rs. 49.81 lakhs. The construction of 368 houses was under progress and the construction of 1,072 was proposed.

Purchase and Sale Societies: There are in all 16 purchase, sale and distribution unions in the district. Of them, one is a district purchase and sale union, 11 are taluka purchase and sale unions and four distribution societies. The distribution societies are defunct.

The co-operative purchase and sale unions constitute the link between the primary credit societies and the District Central Cooperative Bank and are utilised for implementing the scheme of linking of credit with marketing. These societies secure reasonable price for their members' produce and help the primary credit institutions by recovering their advances through the sale proceeds of the produce sold through them. Besides, these societies supply agricultural requisites such as fertilisers, improved seeds, farm implements and machinery required by the agriculturists.

Table No. 11 gives the details about these societies for the years 1967-68 and 1968-69 and 1971-72.

The 11 taluka purchase and sale unions purchased 2,80,118 quintals of jowar and 2,509 quintals of rice in 1968-69. The purchase of jowar and rice was made by the societies on behalf of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Marketing Federation under the monopoly procurement scheme of Government. The district purchase and sale union acts as an agent on behalf of the Government for the distribution of fertilisers under the hybrid and intensive cultivation scheme. All the 11 taluka purchase and sale unions are working as sub-agents. These institutions distributed fertilisers amounting to Rs. 4,49,73,336 in the year 1968-69.

The adat section of each taluka purchase and sale union works with a view to assure proper price to agricultural produce. The institutions at Barshi and Akkalkot talukas did not undertake any sale of agricultural implements in the year 1968-69. The work of Malshiras taluka purchase and sale union was noteworthy regarding the sale of agricultural produce. Malshiras and Pandharpur taluka unions provide ginned cotton to the Maharashtra State Co-operative Marketing Federation.

All the taluka unions undertake sale of consumer goods through fair price shops except the institutions at south and north Sholapur and Mohol. During the year 1968-69 amounts of Rs. 50,000, Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 10,000 were given by Government as share-capital to the unions at Barshi, Sholapur and Mangalwedha, respectively. Government invested an amount of Rs. 5,79,800 in the share-capital of these unions.

Co-operative Taluka Supervising Unions: All the 11 talukas in the district are served by taluka co-operative supervising unions which have as many as 918 service societies under their jurisdiction. These unions have a supervisory staff comprising 23 persons who are required to inspect, guide and instruct the service co-operatives under their control.

The ad hoc committees of these unions look after the appointment and transfer of the secretaries of the affiliated societies. The ad hoc committees made recovery of Rs. 7,12.820, from which an expenditure amounting to Rs. 6,42,901 was incurred on staff in the year 1968-69. These unions received Rs. 14,260 from Government as subsidy in 1968-69.

District Co-operative Board: The district co-operative board had a membership consisting of 759 co-operative societies in 1968-69. However, since the total number of societies in the district is well over 1,000 it is all the more necessary for the board and the concerned officials to establish close contacts with the societies and see that all the co-operative institutions are enrolled as members. The district co-operative board undertakes functions such as imparting training to the secretaries, officers and gramsewaks through classes opened at taluka head-quarters. During 1968-69 the board imparted training to 663 officers and 76 gramsewaks, and held 26 training classes and six refresher's classes. The total income of the board was Rs. 8,997 in 1968-69.

Industrial Co-operative Societies: Table No. 12 gives the number of industrial co-operative societies in the district.

Three co-operative unions and non-weavers' co-operative societies have been registered in the district with a view to look after the over-all working of the societies.

District Industrial Co-operative Board Limited: The head office of this board is situated at Sholapur. This board may be said to be an apex institution of all types of industrial co-operative societies in the district. During 1968-69, two co-operative societies were affiliated to the board taking the total number of the members of societies to 247. The number of individual members was 404. The share-capital of the board was Rs. 66,025 and the reserve and other funds Rs. 33,463.

Sholapur District Labourers' Co-operative Societies' Union: The union was established in the year 1966-67 with a view to solve the technical problems and financial difficulties of the labourers' societies. It also acquires contract work and distributes the same to the labourers' societies according to their efficiency and nature of work. The number of members of the union stood at 75 by the end of 1969.

During 1968-69 the union acquired contract works worth Rs. 20,000 and distributed the same to the labourers' societies. Besides this, the union also tries to acquire contract works for itself. The Union has appointed one Deputy Engineer and three Overseers with a view to extend proper guidance to the labourers' societies. It has purchased one truck from the loan received from Government and the same is allotted to labourers' societies as per their requirements. Table No. 13 shows the working of this union during 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Labourers' Co-operative Societies: These types of societies are spread throughout the district. During the year 1968-69, five new societies were registered and the number of societies increased to 97. Now-a-days these societies are getting special facilities under the Government policy. As such work below Rs. 20,000 is directly given to the labourers' societies without calling tenders, so also work upto Rs. 1,00,000 is given to these societies on 5 per cent commission. Due to these special facilities provided by Government, labourers are encouraged to form their societies which mostly consist of backward class people. In the year 1968-69 these societies received financial aid as detailed in table No. 14.

In addition to this, Government have sanctioned interest subsidy to pay the interest on loans taken by these societies. The Central Government also sanctioned a loan for ten years in 1968-69. Table No. 15 shows the working of these societies during 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Out of 97 labourers' societies, only 33 were found to have earned profit and the remaining 64 suffered loss.

With a view to solve the' financial difficulties, a loan amounting to Rs. 5,03,800 with 10 years duration had been granted to 32 labourers' societies. In addition, the period of bank loan was also extended as per requirements.

Oil-men's Co-operative Societies: There are 23 oil-men's co-operative societies in the district. Of these 23 societies, 15 are working to achieve the desired end, while the rest of them are defunct. Four societies obtained a loan of Rs. 1,12,089 for purchase of 1,100 quintals of oil-seeds from the district industrial bank. Table No. 16 shows the working of these societies during 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Of the 1,500 oil-mills in the district, only 225 function throughout the year. The total production and sales of these mills is given in table No. 17.

There were 317 full-time workers and the wages paid to them amounted to Rs. 93,173 in the year 1968-69. In the same year 800 workers were employed as part-time. In the year 1968-69, one oil-mill received Rs. 750 as loan and the same amount as subsidy. In addition to this, the same society had received Rs. 15,000 for construction of godown. The Khadi and Village Industries Board has invested Rs. 1,48,721 in this business, out of which an amount of Rs. 69,298 is still to be recovered from ten co-operative societies.

Fibre and Rope Production Societies: The total number of societies of this category in the district stood at 29 at the end of the year 1968-69 with a membership of 976. On account of the non-availability of the requisite raw material the production activity of these societies does not last throughout the year. Table No. 18 reveals the working of these societies during 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Leather Workers' Societies: There are 13 leather workers' societies in the district. Of these, only three are working while the remaining 10 societies are defunct.

Weavers' Co-operative Societies: The co-operative societies in this category include societies of handloom weavers, powerloom weavers, khadi weavers and wool weavers. The number of societies of various types in 1968-69 is given below:—

Handloom Weavers' Co-operative Societies: There were 166 weavers' co-operative societies in the district at the end of 1968-69. The total number of members of these societies stood at 13,083 during the year. Table No. 19 shows the working of these societies during 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Nira and Palm Production Co-operative Societies: There are two societies of this type in the district. Table No. 20 shows the working of these societies.

These societies have purchased land for cultivation of nira-producing plants. The society at Sholapur suffered a loss of Rs. 8,393 in 1968-69. The societies are faced with the problem of paucity of demand for their products.

Sholapur District Weavers' Co-operative Federation Limited: This is an apex organisation of all the co-operative weavers' societies in the district. Established in 1958, almost all the primary co-operative weavers' societies in the district are affiliated to it. It undertakes supply of raw materials at reasonable rates to its member-societies and sells finished products in the market profitably. Furthermore, it helps in marketing the products of member-societies and gives wide publicity to the products through opening different sales centres at different places.

Statistics in table No. 21 relating to sales throw a light on the activities of the federation in 1967-68 and 1968-69.

The federation has maintained a bleaching and finishing plant which was granted a loan of Rs. 3,10,925 and Rs. 2,26,054 as subsidy in 1969, by the All-India Handloom Board. The working of the plant started from 1963. Table No. 22 shows the progress of the federation in 1967-68 and 1968-69.

The federation also established a sizing plant in 1967-68. During 1969 the plant completed sizing of 2,222 beams and realised Rs. 8.18 lakhs with a gross profit of Rs. 81,000 and a net profit of Rs. 32,000.

Table No. 23 gives the financial position of the federation during 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Powerloom Weavers' Co-operative Societies: There are 18 power-loom weavers' co-operative societies in Sholapur district, the main aim of which is to supply yarn to its members at reasonable rates and to sell the finished product. Table No. 24 reveals the working of these societies in 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Besides yarn, the federation supplies spare parts and other requisites required by member-societies at reasonable rates. Almost all the societies are engaged in manufacture of bed-sheets for which they require thick yarn. These societies face difficulties in acquiring sufficient quantity of yarn. To overcome the difficulty these societies have established the Yashwant Co-operative Thread Mill which supplies yarn to the member-societies.

Tikekar Textile Co-operative Weaving Society Limited, Tikekar-wadi: The Tikekar Textile Works which was under private management was purchased by the co-operative society organised by its workers and was registered in March 1965 under the Maharashtra State Co-operative Societies Act, under the name of Tikekarwadi Textile Co-operative Weaving Society Limited. Table No. 25 reveals the progress and working of the institution during 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Wool Weavers' Co-operative Societies: There were 10 wool weavers' co-operative societies in the district with a total membership of 494 in 1967-68 and 401 in 1968-69. The share-capital of these societies was Rs. 20,472 in 1967-68 which decreased to Rs. 19,220 in 1968-69. There was however an increase in the amount of working capital from Rs. 75,521 in 1967-68 to Rs. 82,868 in 1968-69. The reserve and other funds of these societies were Rs. 11,674 in 1968-69 as against Rs. 12,259 in 1967-68. The other relevant statistics of these societies are given in table No. 26.

Khadi Weavers' Societies: There are two societies of khadi weavers in the district, one of which produces only khadi and the other one runs a Khadi Bhandar. The number of their members stood at 206 at the end of 1968-69, while the share-capital stood at Rs. 32,125 in 1968-69 as against Rs. 31,702 in 1967-68. These societies have been started with a view to encourage the production and sale of khadi cloth. Table No. 27 shows the working of these societies during 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Other Industrial Co-operative Societies: Besides the above-mentioned industrial co-operative societies, there are 61 other industrial co-operative societies in the district. The position of these societies in 1968-69 is given in table No. 28.

Fisheries Societies: There are five co-operative societies of fishermen in the district which receive financial assistance in the form of loans and subsidy. The total membership of these societies was 202, while only 149 persons were reported to be engaged in fishing as a principal work in 1969. The total share-capital of these societies was Rs. 19,925, out of which an amount of Rs. 13,000 was contributed by Government. The working capital of the societies was Rs. 21,177, while their sale proceeds amounted to Rs. 55,424 in 1969.

Co-operative Water Supply Societies: There were 10 water supply societies in the district at the end of June 1969. These societies supplied water to 2,305 acres of land and were registered mainly with a view to supply regular water-flow to agricultural land. The figures given in table No. 29 reveal the financial position and working of these societies in 1968-69.

Milk Supply Societies: There were 37 milk supply societies in 1969, of which 29 were affiliated to the District Central Co-operative Milk Producing and Supplying Union. Some of the societies affiliated to the union collect milk from their members and supply it to customers, while others supply milk directly to the union without undertaking any retail sales. Sixteen milk societies supply milk to Government milk scheme. During the year 1968-69, these societies supplied milk amounting to Rs. 5,75,383 to Government milk scheme. Table No. 30 shows the financial position as well as working of these societies for the period 1966-67 to 1968-69.

During 1967-68, twelve societies received Government subsidy to the extent of Rs. 8,580, while the central union granted loans amounting to Rs. 50,000 to the affiliated societies in 1968-69.

District Central Co-operative Milk Producing and Supply Union: The union is a central organisation to which a number of milk supply societies are affiliated. The number of members of this union was 70 at the end of June 1969. The share-capital of the organisation in 1966-67 was Rs. 13,000 which increased to Rs. 20,200 in 1967-68 and further to Rs. 24,200 in 1968-69. The working capital increased to Rs. 94,935 in 1967-68 but decreased to Rs. 35,363 in 1968-69. The fixed assets of the union were valued at Rs. 91,376, Rs. 86,546, and Rs. 81,989 in 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69 respectively. The sale proceeds of the union amounted to Rs. 13,19.276 in 1966-67 but decreased to Rs. 11,63,015 in 1967-68, while the sales of milk increased to Rs. 11,69,455 in 1968-69. It earned a profit of Rs. 2,474 in 1966-67, Rs. 22,138 in 1967-68 and Rs. 3,723 in 1968-69. The union received Rs. 70,000 as loan for purchasing animals from the Dairy Development Commissioner in 1968-69.

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