1.1 Background
Maharashtra is a most progressive state in the co-operative agitation in the country. Beginning of the Co-operation agitation in India starts from making available loan to the farness for agriculture. Thereafter, extension and development of this agitation has been spread in various fields. At present we experience the direct or indirect relation of co-operation beginning from the morning tea, sugar, milk to fruits, vegetables and loan for various reasons.
As on 31.3.2010 there are 2,18,320 Co-operative societies in Maharashtra State out of which 81,255 are Housing Societies. It means numerically housing societies are more in number than any other society. Naturally remarkable number of the member is also of Housing Society.
Housing Society is such type of society where the members of the society stay with their family day and night in each others’ close contact/company. This type of close contact is not found in any other type of society. Therefore it is experienced that the complaints of Housing societies arise out of human nature, behaviour, egoism, anger, greed etc. Therefore provisions made in laws, bye-laws are not sufficient to solve their problems but to knowledge of the human nature, behavior is necessary.
Incidental to that, the model bye-laws were prepared in the year 2001-2002 for the co-operative housing societies as a part of the efforts to solve the complaints by studying the housing Societies questions and complaints received by time to time. Even then, there was no sufficient change in the nature of the complaints received, once again the study was conducted and accordingly amendments are made in the model bye laws. In the year 2009-2010 new model bye laws has been published.
In fact the guidance of procedure regarding all points related to the management of Co-operative housing societies has been given in this model bye laws. Even then complaints from the members received frequently on the same points. The persons/members residing in the co-operative housing society are especially from the urban area and they all are out day long for the purpose of work. Similarly such societies have no independent trained staff for handling day to day work and accounts works many a time members from the managing committee themselves doing the work of writing record. While taking decisions of day to day working of the Cooperative Society, it is necessary to take decision as per co-operative law, rules and similarly provisions in the bye laws. However while applying meaning in that regard, and while doing development work on the society level, different decisions was taken in various societies and thereby complaints arise.
By observing legal provisions in the co-operation law, rules and bye laws and for its effective implementation and for bringing equality and similarly in the entire state on the decisions to be taken on complaints or questions in the Society or Registrar level, if such type of Co-operative Housing Societies Manual is there, then the office bearer of the society can get practical instructions and also guidance for doing day to day working. The idea of preparing this Co-operative Housing Societies Manual is emerged especially for this purpose.