More than 30 representatives from cooperative and self-help groups from across the country have urged the Odisha Government to reconsider the decision to repeal the Self-Help Cooperative Act, 2001.
In a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the civil society groups asked the Government to put the decision on hold and initiate a ‘meaningful and extensive deliberation’ with the stakeholders. The decision to repeal the Act would affect millions of poor who have formed small cooperative and self-help groups at the village level, they said.
The poor communities have been empowered and economically benefited from the cooperatives established under this Act. It was one of the most progressive coop legislations.
In the past 12 years, millions of poor, particularly the womenfolk, have benefited through more than 1600 self-help cooperatives established under the Act, they said.
The memorandum also urged the Government to bring to book the truant cooperatives and consider taking appropriate measures for adherence to statutory stipulations under the Act.
A delegation also met Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya who assured them of looking into the issue positively.
He also expressed the view that there should be more dialogue and discussion among the policy-makers so that the decision will be for larger benefit.
The memorandum was the outcome of a round-table held by the representatives from across the country and organised by ACCESS that provides technical services and support towards innovative and sustainable livelihood solutions for the poor. Among those who attended the round-table included Vipin Sharma, CEO, ACCESS, New Delhi; Rama Reddy, CDF, Hyderabad; Achala Sabyasachi from Sadhan, New Delhi; Smita Premchander from Sampark, Bangalore and Amulya Kumar Mohanty from ACCESS, Bhubaneswar.
