| They have also consented to linking the central financial assistance for development of cooperatives with the reforms undertaken by the state governments. | |
| A consensus on these issues was arrived at the meeting of state cooperative ministers convened here by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today. | |
| The conference, however, affirmed that cooperatives will remain a state subject even after the amendment of the Constitution. | |
| Briefing newspersons about the outcome of the meet, Agriculture Secretary Radha Singh said a high-level committee or commission would soon be set up to go into the challenges faced by the cooperatives and suggest ways of meeting them. | |
| This panel would have representatives of the state governments, central ministries concerned, eminent cooperators and other public officials. | |
| The conference hailed the passage of the Multi-state Cooperative Societies Amendment Act, 2002, as a major step towards cooperative sector reforms. | |
| However, the need was felt for amending the Constitution itself to provide the cooperatives greater freedom to act as business organisations in a liberalised economy. | |
| The proposed amendment would address the key issue of empowering the cooperatives for autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management. | |
| It would also ensure regular and timely conduct of elections to the board of directors, and general body meetings and professional audit. | |
| The composition of the commission would be finalised in a couple of weeks. | |
| "The agriculture ministry had already done the homework for the constitutional amendment and will try to bring a Bill for this in the next Budget session of Parliament," Singh said. | |
| She indicated that the report of the Vaidyanathan Committee on strengthening the rural cooperative credit infrastructure would be available in the next few days. | |
| The government would then consider the measures needed for revitalisation of sick cooperatives.
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