Giving relief to the cooperative societies of the Himachal Pradesh, the state government led by Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu made the two major amendments in the Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Societies Rules, 1971.
The Cooperative societies of the state contributing three percent from their profits towards the cooperative education fund managed by the Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Development Federation (Himcofed), will now have to contribute only one percent. And the remaining two percent can be used by respective co-op societies at their own level for imparting training.
Besides, It has also been decided that a cooperative society shall employ a salaried officer or servant with total monthly emoluments not exceeding Rs 15,000 without prior permission of the Registrar. Earlier, the society shall employ a salaried officer with total monthly emoluments not exceeding Rs 5k, without prior permission of the registrar.
Meanwhile, the gazette notification in this connection was released last week. It reads, “Whereas, the draft Himachal Pradesh Co-operative Societies Rules, 1971, were published in the Rajpatra (e-Gazette) Himachal Pradesh on 29-12-2023 vide this department notification of even number dated 26-12-2023 for inviting objection(s) and suggestion(s) from the persons likely to be affected thereby, as required under section 109 of the Himachal Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1968 (Act No. 3 of 1969)”.
“And whereas, objection(s)/suggestion(s) have been received from the persons likely to be affected thereby within the specified period, which have been considered by the Government. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by the section 109 of the Himachal Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1968 (Act No. 3 of 1969), the Governor of Himachal Pradesh is pleased to make the following amendments in the rules”, the gazette notification further added.
It is to be mentioned here that for many years, the Sahakar Bharati Himachal Pradesh unit also raised the issue before the previous governments of the state but it goes to the credit of the Congress government which took the issue seriously and made the necessary amendments.
At the National Executive Meeting of Sahakar Bharati, held at Haridwar recently, the state government was thanked for amending rules which will help in strengthening the cooperative sector of the state.
There are 2144 PACS, 472 Other Credit Societies and 2265 Non-Credit Cooperative Societies in the state.
