Maharashtra State Co-operative Union

6. Maharashtra State Co-operative Union

At the state level in Maharashtra, the apex body responsible for co-operative education and training is the Maharashtra State Co-operative Union (in Marathi, the Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sangh). It is the state counterpart of the NCUI: just as the NCUI leads co-operative education for the whole country, the Maharashtra State Co-operative Union leads it for the state of Maharashtra. Its membership is drawn from the co-operative societies, district co-operative boards and federations of the state.

Role and functions of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Union:

• Apex education body of the state — it plans, guides and co-ordinates co-operative education and training throughout Maharashtra, in line with the national policy set by the NCUI.
• Member and public education — it organises programmes to educate members of societies and to spread awareness of co-operation among the general public, particularly in rural areas where the movement is strong.
• Training of personnel — it arranges training for the office-bearers, secretaries and staff of co-operative societies, often through the district co-operative boards and co-operative training colleges/centres working under its guidance.
• Working through district co-operative boards — the Union carries its education work to the ground through a network of district co-operative boards (education boards), which conduct member-education programmes and basic training at the district and taluka level.
• Publications and propaganda — it brings out literature, journals and other material on co-operation in Marathi and other languages, and undertakes propaganda to popularise the movement in the state.
• Guidance to societies — it advises and guides co-operative societies on co-operative practice, and represents the state's co-operative interests where required. …