Q.Explain the principle of 'Voluntary and Open Membership'.

This first ICA principle governs how a person becomes, and stops being, a member of a co-operative.

Voluntary and Open Membership is the first principle of co-operation laid down by the ICA. It states that co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without discrimination based on gender, social status, race, religion, caste or political belief.

The principle has two parts:

(a) Voluntary. A person joins a co-operative entirely of his or her own free will, because the society is useful to them, and is equally free to leave it after following the withdrawal procedure and giving due notice. Membership is never forced on anyone; no one can be compelled to join or to remain a member. This reflects the value of self-help — people voluntarily come together to solve a common problem. …