Cooperative sector schemes to go online in Gujarat soon: CM

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today said that schemes related to the cooperative sector would soon be made available on the internet.
"Like the other government services which are available on e-Governance platforms in the state, we will make cooperative schemes available online soon," Patel said at a seminar organised by Gujarat State Cooperative Union here.
She assured the union that government would look into the sector's long-pending demands including introduction of quota for women in cooperative societies, a women-only counter in state registrar's office and more grants for the union.
The union's Ahmedabad unit chairman Ghanshyam Amin and chairman of women's cooperative committee Dipti Patel raised these issues during the seminar.

Amin said the union was facing a cash-crunch because of insufficient government grant.
"The union's main objective is to provide education and training to its members as to how to operate a cooperative society," he said.

"At present Gujarat has more than 70,000 cooperative societies and more than one crore members. Gujarat is the only state where sugar is produced only through such societies and not by private firms," said Amin.
"We have a staff of just 150, which is very small. This is mainly because we are not getting enough grant," he said.
The Chief Minister said she will have to study the whole structure of the sector.

"I was never in the cooperative sector before, so I first need to study the relevant laws before giving you any definite assurance," the CM said.