Co-Operative Movement in India : A Critical Appraisal

Contents: Preface then. Preface now. I. Introductory: 1. Concept and principles of co-operation. 2. Co-operation in foreign countries. 3. History and development of co-operative Movement. 4. Recent developments in Co-operative Movement. II. Co-operation in agriculture sector: 5. Rural finance and co-operatives. 6. Financing institution and rural development. 7. Integrated rural development (Role of Co-operative institutions). 8. Agricultural supplies and marketing. 9. Co-operative processing. 10. Other agricultural co-operatives. 11. Co-operative farming societies. III. Co-operation in non-agricultural sector: 12. Consumers\' co-operatives. 13. Urban co-operative banks and credit societies. 14. Industrial co-operatives. 15. Housing, transport and other urban co-operatives. IV. Co-operation and social welfare: 16. Social welfare and co-operatives. 17. Weaker sections and co-operatives. 18. Specialised co-operatives for weaker sections. V. Co-operative administration, education and training: 19. State, co-operative administration and legislation. 20. Co-operative education and training. 21. International co-operative alliance and inter-co-operative relation. 22. Looking ahead. Index.

"The Co-operative Movement in India has passed through various ups and downs. It may be said to have begun with the passing of the Co-operative Societies Act of 1904. A landmark in the history of the Movement was the announcement by the Government of India of a National Co-operative Policy in 2002 alongwith some legislative reforms by enacting the new Multistate Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. The Government also set up a Task Force in 2002 to recommend measures for strengthening the Co-operative Movement. However, an expert appointed by the ICA Regional Office in India had in a report in 2004 stated that progress in the implementation of the National Co-Operative Policy 2002 by the Government of India had been very slow. The reasons for this slide needed to be studied.

The author, a veteran sociologist and economist has done this and dealt with almost all aspects of the Co-operative Movement in the country during its historical development and evolution. This is a revised edition of his excellent study first published in 1994.

This authoritative book contains almost all one might like to know about the Co-operative Movement by an expert who has devoted a long period of time to study the subject. A must for all collections on co-operatives and related issues." (jacket)