Q.Explain the role of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Union in providing co-operative education and training.

It is the apex body for co-operative education and training within Maharashtra, the state counterpart of the NCUI.

The Maharashtra State Co-operative Union (in Marathi, the Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sangh) is the apex body responsible for co-operative education and training within the state of Maharashtra. It is the state counterpart of the NCUI, with its membership drawn from the societies, district co-operative boards and federations of the state.

Its role and functions:

• 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 of the NCUI.
• Member and public education — it organises programmes to educate members of societies and to spread awareness of co-operation among the public, especially in the rural areas where the movement is strong.
• Training of personnel — it arranges training for the office-bearers, secretaries and staff of societies, often through district co-operative boards and co-operative training colleges/centres working under its guidance.
• Working through district co-operative boards — it carries its education work to the ground through a network of district co-operative (education) boards that conduct member-education and basic training at the district and taluka level.
• Publications and propaganda — it brings out literature, journals and material on co-operation in Marathi and other languages, and popularises the movement through propaganda.
• Guidance to societies — it advises and guides co-operative societies on co-operative practice and represents the state's co-operative interests. …