Q.Describe the role of the secretary of a co-operative society.

A co-operative society's secretary is appointed under state co-operative law, not merely under a private constitution.

Position

A co-operative society, once registered, functions under the co-operative societies legislation of the state in which it is registered — in Gujarat, the Gujarat Co-operative Societies Act. The society's secretary is appointed by its managing committee, but the office and several of its duties are shaped by this statute and the rules framed under it, not only by the society's own bye-laws.

Duties

1. Correspondence and liaison with the Registrar — corresponding with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, filing returns and reports as required by the Act.
2. Statutory registers — maintaining the register of members, the share register, and other records the Act and rules prescribe.
3. Meetings — issuing notices for committee and general body meetings and recording minutes.
4. Implementing resolutions — carrying into effect the decisions of the managing committee and the general body.
5. Accounts and records — assisting with maintaining or overseeing the society's books of account for audit, since co-operative societies are subject to statutory audit.
6. Day-to-day administration — supervising routine office and operational matters of the society between committee meetings.

Why this differs from a club secretary …

Students often skip the Registrar of Co-operative Societies angle and describe the role exactly like a club secretary, missing the statutory reporting …