STATE BJP Cooperative Cell has asked State Government to scrap Madhya Pradesh Swayatt Sahkarita Adhiniyam 1999, constituted during tenure of Congress Government headed by former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh.
In a set of recommendations submitted to government recently, the Cell insisted that MP Cooperative Societies Act 1960 was adequate and ensures a better government control over cooperative bodies and therefore it could be strengthened further to address the present day needs of cooperative sector.
“We have asked the government either to abolish the 1999 Act or amend it so that Registrar Cooperative Societies can have a more effective and direct control over the cooperative institutions. People have misused the autonomy granted under 1999 Act and gained unbridled powers to dupe the depositors,” Cell in-charge and ex-MLA Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat said.
According to Shekhawat, Congress framed the 1999 Act to shield the ignominious activities of their cooperative leaders who minted crores of rupees and destroyed the movement in the State. He added, “There are several cases of fraud committed by Subhash Yadav (Khargone), Mohan Singh Bundela (Dhar), Bhagwan Singh Yadav (Gwalior), Dr Govind Singh (Bhind), Rameshwar Patel (Indore), Suresh Paratap Singh Munna Raja (Tikamgarh) and Mahavir Vashishtha (Ujjain). We have started taking action against them. Of all, Vashishtha has been closest to Digvijay Singh.”
Of the 3,500 odd cooperative bodies in the district, about 450 are governed under 1999 Act. Incidentally, it’s not only the cooperative leaders who have cheated the depositors, but also Cooperative Department officials who in absence of political turned a blind eye towards the financial irregularities prevailing the organisations. This is despite the fact that 1999 Act has granted powers to Registrar for registering a cooperative, receiving annual reports, balance sheets, taking penal action including dissolution of the body and appointing a liquidator.
Of the 3,500 odd cooperative bodies in the district, about 450 are governed under 1999 Act. Incidentally, it’s not only the cooperative leaders who have cheated the depositors, but also Cooperative Department officials who in absence of political turned a blind eye towards the financial irregularities prevailing the organisations. This is despite the fact that 1999 Act has granted powers to Registrar for registering a cooperative, receiving annual reports, balance sheets, taking penal action including dissolution of the body and appointing a liquidator.