In defense of Cooperatives

There is generally a large hue and cry about corruption in cooperative movement. People openly criticize the corrupt practices being followed by those in control of cooperative society and prefer the attractive and efficient services offered by private businesses and large corporate firms. 

Even government machinery feels comfortable while dealing with private firms as they are more flexible in approach, ready to invest capital and very efficient in fulfilling conditions stipulated in contract. Due to such scenario, cooperatives are fast loosing their stake in the business world. Sugar factories, textile mills, Dairies, Service agencies in Maharashtra are getting converted from cooperative sector to private sector. Government and Semi-government agencies are helping this trend as they could push through development schemes without necessary financial provisions. 

 But I have come to conclusion that cooperative movement is the best and truly democratic way of running business. There are many drawbacks in cooperative rules and regulations which make functioning of the business sluggish and inefficient leading to corruption. Still one should not forget that they are open to public and there is significant transparency to expose the corruption. 

Recent exposure of corruption in cooperatives with right to information has smeared the cooperative movement. But we should not think that all is well in private sector. There is a mantle of secrecy in management of corporate, which harbors many unlawful activities conducted solely to succeed in the stiff competition and lust of expanding business. The employees are more strictly and secretly monitored for their loyalty with company, work efficiency and are governed by reward and punishment strategy. Hire or fire is the rule of governance. 

Cooperative society is an organization built by the final beneficiaries or contributors. They have freedom to complain, get information or oppose the decisions. The ruling party in cooperative industry cannot conceal the decisions from it’s members and there is always a risk of information leakage, party switch over by members and fear of loosing power through elections. 

 Late Dr. Vasantdada Patil gave a boost to cooperative movement in Maharashtra and achieved all out progress in agriculture, banking and education. Cooperative is a via media solution between communist and capitalist systems, for preserving and ensuring democracy in governance. 

 Let us not destroy that development model with the fear of corruption or inefficiency. No doubt there is urgent need to remove these drawbacks in present cooperative system, but we should not reject the system and allow private sector to grab all cooperatives and turn the society in dictatorial regime of private business owners and corporate bodies. 

 Prosperity of cooperative movement shall ensure development through democratic process of equitable participation without infringing on freedom of individual.

IT sector in India has remained away from co-operative sector and is governed mainly by big private companies which are merely providing skilled human resources to MNCs. There is no security of service, constant burden of work assignments, stress and tension in the recruits.

Dnyandeep Infotech Pvt. Ltd. a company established in 2000 could not grow due to continuous exodus of trained software engineers to mega cities due to attractive salary offers.

Now that glamour is getting converted in to dark shadow with future downfall in IT industry.

Dnyandeep Foundation has decided to start a new experiment to bring all  individual software engineers and small firms under co-operative platform with backing of Dnyandeep Infotech Pvt. Ltd.