Guwahati: The concept of a cooperative is based on cooperation. It is formed with the grouping of people to meet common economic, social and/or cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled business enterprise.
One of the most popular cooperative models in the country is Amul launched by the milkman of the country, Verghese Kurien, known as the Father of the White Revolution in the country.
Kurien started the Anand model of dairy cooperatives and replicated it nationwide, based on the ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ approaches. He also made India self-sufficient in edible oils.
Another successful cooperative is the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative (IFFCO). It is headquartered in New Delhi. It is the biggest cooperative in the world by turnover on GDP per capita. Founded on November 3, 1967, IFFCO is the largest fertiliser manufacturer of the region and reaches out to 5.5 crores of farmers in the country.
Assam is not lagging behind in the cooperative movement too.
Cooperatives were introduced in India in 1904 when the Indian Co-operative Societies Act was formed. The first Credit Cooperative society in Assam was the Shillong Cooperative Town Bank in 1904. Other banks which were subsequently formed were Rajahauli Gaolia Bank, Jorhat; Charigaon Gaolia Bank, Jorhat; and Jorhat Town Bank Limited.
Assam has a presence of 9,000 co-operatives. It is playing a very significant role in the socio-economic development of rural Assam.
The Registrar of Co-operative Societies Assam states that in India there are four types of cooperatives. These are the primary agricultural credit or service societies, agricultural non-credit societies, cooperative farming societies, and other agro-based cooperative societies like dairy, fishery, handloom, sericulture, etc.
One of the most popular cooperative models in Assam is the Purabi Model. It was established in 1976 and registered in 1981. It has now become a name of recognition by every household in Assam. Following the similar business model of Amul, the project aims to provide livelihood opportunities to people both in rural and urban areas. This gives opportunities to women farmers by making them stakeholders in the operation.
WAMUL informed Business Northeast that it provides farmers with training, fodder support, medicine, vaccine and training for the upkeeping of animals.
Thus, in a country like India, which is laden with poverty, the cooperative model is bringing new waves of success inspiring the upcoming cooperatives.
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