A cooperative is an autonomous association of people united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled business.
A cooperative is an autonomous association of people united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled business. In short, a cooperative can be defined as "a jointly owned enterprise engaging in the production or distribution of goods or the supplying of services, operated by its members for their mutual benefit, typically organized by consumers or farmers. " Cooperative businesses are typically more economically resilient than many other forms of enterprise. Now co-operation occupies a position of cardinal importance as a form of business organization in almost all the countries of the world. The working of the co-operative movement all over the world clearly demonstrates that there is hardly any economic need that cannot be met by organizing co-operative societies and hardly any form of social or political organization with which they cannot be reconciled or integrated. co-operative movement all over the world clearly demonstrates that there is hardly any economic need that cannot be met by organizing co-operative societies and hardly any form of social or political organization with which they cannot be reconciled or integrated.
The primary objective of every Cooperative is to provide goods and services to its members and thus enable them to attain increased income and savings, investments, productivity and purchasing power and promote among them equitable distribution of net surplus through maximum utilization of locally available resources. In addition, Cooperatives frequently have social goals which they aim to accomplish by investing a proportion of trading profits back into their communities.
The Co-operative System represents a fundamental tool for eradicating hunger and reducing poverty, being a catalyst for socially-inclusive development (jobs and income generation). They also represent a powerful means for supporting marginalised groups, such as youth and women. And therefore, the Government of West Bengal, very consciously, trying to strengthen the Co-operative Sector and the Co-operative Movement to achieve sustainable development for all.
Functions of Co-operation Department
Promote various types of co-operatives to widen the ambit as well as to strengthen the Co-operative Movement.
Planning for Co-operative development aiming at employment & income generation
Ensuring appropriate policy for growth of Co-operatives through continuous evaluation.
Upgrading skill and promotion of good governance through training
Infrastructure development.
Providing financial support for strengthening, revival and sustainable development of co-operative institutions.
Making administration transparent and people oriented with mean of administrative reforms.