About Jharkhand

Co-operative movement in India was started primarily for dealing with the problem of rural credit. The Co-operative movement in Jharkhand started like other states with registration/organization of Rural Agricultural Credit Co-operative Societies with the enactment of Co-operative Societies Act 1904. There is qualitative and quantitative progress in cooperative act after 1904 on time to time according to need of that time. In 1935, Bihar and Orissa Co-operative Societies Act 1935 was enacted and that was amended time to time. Also Bihar Cooperative Societies rules 1959 and Bihar Self supporting Cooperative Societies Act 1996 (Act II, 1997) was enacted in Bihar.

With the re-organization of Jharkhand State, Bihar Co-operative Societies Act 1935 and Bihar Self supporting Co-operative Societies Act 1996 and Bihar Co-operative Societies rules 1959 as amended 1997 have been adopted in Jharkhand state. Jharkhand Co-operative Societies Act 1935 amended in 2011 and 2015 while Jharkhand Self supporting Co-operative Societies Act 1996 was amended in 2015. Jharkhand Co-operative Societies rules have amended in 2012. At present there are one (01) State Co-operative Bank Ltd. and one(01) District Central Co-operative Bank, two(02) Urban Co-operative Banks, six (06) Co-operative federations, one regional handloom weavers Co-operative uUnion, 2028 LAMPS, 2384 PACS, one (01) farmers service society, 77 VMSS and 7100 special type cooperative societies in the state.

Mission

The objective of the department is to promote, regulate & facilitate the socio-economic & cultural needs of cooperative community and to achieve the sustainable development of their members with proactive, responsive participative in their work.

7 Cooperative Principles

Cooperatives around the world generally operate according to the following core principles and values:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all people able to use its services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2.  Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members—those who buy the goods or use the services of the cooperative—who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.

3. Members' Economic Participation

Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of the cooperative. This benefits members in proportion to the business they conduct with the cooperative rather than on the capital invested.

4. Autonomy and Independence

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If the co-op enters into agreements with other organizations or raises capital from external sources, it is done so based on terms that ensure democratic control by the members and maintains the cooperative’s autonomy.

5. Education, Training and Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. Members also inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperatives.

6. Cooperation among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7. Concern for Community

While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.