Maharashtra Government May Revive Cooperative Education Fund, Decision Expected Within One Month

The Maharashtra government is likely to take a final decision within the next month on restoring the discontinued education fund of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Union (MSCU), Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced during the International Day of Cooperatives celebrations in Mumbai.

The announcement came at the Sahakar Gaurav Awards ceremony held at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Nariman Point. The event recognized individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to Maharashtra's cooperative movement across sectors such as banking, housing, agriculture, rural development, and social service.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said the state remains committed to strengthening the cooperative sector by investing in training, policy reforms, and institutional development.

Government Signals Fresh Support for Cooperative Education

A major highlight of the event was the Chief Minister's assurance that the government will examine the revival of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Union's education fund, which was discontinued several years ago.

According to Fadnavis, the proposal will be reviewed and a decision is expected within one month. Restoring the fund would help strengthen cooperative education and training programs while preparing a skilled workforce for the sector's future needs.

The Maharashtra State Cooperative Union, established more than a century ago, has played an important role in promoting cooperative awareness, leadership development, and professional training across the state. The Chief Minister appreciated the Union's efforts and said it continues to provide valuable direction to Maharashtra's cooperative movement under the leadership of MLA Pravin Darekar.

Maharashtra Continues to Lead India's Cooperative Movement

Highlighting Maharashtra's long-standing contribution to India's cooperative ecosystem, Fadnavis said the state has been at the forefront of the movement for more than 125 years.

He noted that Maharashtra's first cooperative credit society was established in 1904, followed by one of the country's earliest rural cooperative societies in Kankavli in the Konkan region. Today, the state has over two lakh cooperative institutions operating across agriculture, banking, housing, dairy, consumer services, and rural development.

The Chief Minister said this strong foundation has made Maharashtra one of the country's leading cooperative states.

National Cooperative Reforms Creating New Opportunities

Fadnavis also highlighted recent reforms introduced by the Central Government to strengthen the cooperative sector across India.

He said the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah marked a significant step toward modernizing cooperative institutions. He added that the recently announced National Cooperative Policy aims to substantially increase the cooperative sector's contribution to India's economy over the next two decades through governance reforms, digital transformation, and capacity building.

These initiatives, he said, are expected to create new growth opportunities for cooperative organizations nationwide.

Housing Cooperative Societies Remain a Key Priority

The Chief Minister also emphasized the growing importance of cooperative housing societies in Maharashtra.

According to him, nearly 40–45 percent of all cooperative institutions in the state are housing societies. He said recent legislative changes have provided a separate legal framework for these societies, making governance and administration more efficient.

Fadnavis also highlighted the success of Maharashtra's self-redevelopment policy, which has enabled many housing societies to redevelop old buildings and provide residents with larger and better homes. He said the government is open to examining amendments to the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) so that similar redevelopment benefits can be extended to housing societies in cities beyond Mumbai, including Pune, Thane, and Nashik.

Industry Leaders Seek Additional Support for Cooperative Sector

During the event, Maharashtra State Cooperative Union President and BJP MLA Pravin Darekar requested the government to restore the Union's education fund and financial assistance.

He also urged the state to expand self-redevelopment benefits to housing societies in other municipal corporation areas through suitable regulatory changes. In addition, he sought greater policy support for cooperative credit societies, urban cooperative banks, and consumer cooperatives to help them remain competitive and financially strong.

Outstanding Cooperative Institutions Receive State Recognition

The Sahakar Gaurav Awards celebrated the achievements of several organizations and individuals that have contributed to strengthening Maharashtra's cooperative sector.

Awards were presented in multiple categories, including cooperative banking, housing, agriculture, rural development, social service, and cooperative leadership. The ceremony was attended by several senior leaders, including Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Industries Minister Uday Samant, Minister of State for Cooperation Pankaj Bhoyar, legislators, and representatives from cooperative institutions across Maharashtra.

The event reflected the state's continued commitment to recognizing excellence while encouraging innovation, transparency, and sustainable growth within the cooperative movement.