Gujarat State Co-Operative Union, Ahmedabad was established in 1960 with registration number 24950 by Registrar, Co-operative Societies of erstwhile Mumbai State on 19 April 1960 when Mumbai and Gujarat State came into existence due to the bifurcation of the then Greater Mumbai State into two states i.e. Gujarat and Maharashtra. The governing body of the state co-operative society consists of the primary level societies of the state, district level co-operative societies, district co-operative banks, representatives of state level co-operative societies, and one representative of each district co-operative society of the state and inspires and guides the development and progress of cooperatives in the State through various programs of cooperative education, training, promotion, and dissemination.
In order to ensure that the functioning of the Gujarat State Co-operative Union runs smoothly, the first working committee has been appointed by the Government of Gujarat consisting of 23 members. The first Board of the State Co-operative Union was appointed by the State Government. Shri Jagjivandas Shivlal Parikh, a well-known co-operative and social worker of the State Co-operative Union, was unanimously elected as the President, Shri Madhavalal Bhailalbhai Shah, a staunch Gandhian social worker of the Swatantra Sena, as the Vice-President and Shri Kantilal Fulchandbhai Ghiya as the Honorary Secretary. The first leaders of this Gujarat State Co-operative Union added the activities which Mumbai State Co-operative Union had devised in the field of co-operative education, and training in terms of the needs, demand, and co-operative workers of Gujarat. With effect form 1 July 1960, the services of the employees working in the province of Gujarat Division were handed over to the State Co-operative Union.
Thus, the responsibility of expanding and improving the scope of cooperative education and training activities in the state was taken up and the state government appointed Mrs. Charumtiben Yoddha, a strong representative as a women cooperative worker of Gujarat, in addition to 23 members in this committee to manage the state cooperative union.
The Co-operative Education Training Scheme is implemented by the State Co-operative Union. The recruitment, and training of cooperative education instructors, organizing their monthly, annual programs, monitoring their performance, guidance, and providing reading material for their intellectual development. Educational and technical guidance was provided with administrative control over the preparation of teaching materials and instructors. Initially in collaboration with 18 District Co-operative Unions and now in collaboration with 25 District Co-operative Unions, the Education, Training, and Promotion programs are being implemented. Cooperative Education Scheme and Women Cooperative Education Scheme programs are being implemented in the state through 23 Cooperative Education Instructors and 18 Women Cooperative Education Instructors.
The main objective of cooperative education is to make cooperative activity cooperative, self-sustaining, and democratically manage so that it can achieve the goal of social and economic development and eliminate poverty and exploitation. The cooperative activity of Gujarat occupies a leading position in the country. It is not an exaggeration to say that there are more than 87,201 cooperatives of various types in the cooperative sector in Gujarat making a valuable contribution to the economic and social development of 165 crore people, thanks to the various educational and developmental activities carried out by the State Cooperative Union.
According to the Gujarat Co-operative Societies Act-1961, cooperative societies permit for public purposes from educational funds as per the provision of Section 70.
The Government takes opinion as well as believes that the Gujarat State Co-operative Union solves all the necessary queries given by other responsible bodies.
The state co-operative union Council the difficulties found in co-operative policy, violation of laws, and counter veiling provisions of various fields of co-operative activity of the State. For that, the state co-operative passes the resolution and executes it in the form of seminars as well as conferences on particular issues
The District Co-operative Union prepares the co-operative education scheme for rural development with the guidance of the education committee of the Gujarat State Co-operative Union.
The Gujarat State Co-operative Union has established an efficient administrative structure to facilitate the balanced development of cooperative activities. This structure is designed to achieve the Union’s vast and noble objectives, promoting sustainable growth and coordination within the cooperative sector across the state.
In order to meet the cost of education and training by Gujarat State Co-Operative Union, as per Section 69 and Rule 31 of the Co-operatives Act, profit-making and dividend-distributing co-operative societies should remit contributions as education funds.
Following are the various activities and functions of Gujarat Rajya Sahakari Sangh, the apex cooperative organization of the state doing excellent work in cooperative education, training, promotion and dissemination for the development of cooperative activity in the state and economic and social development.
Gujarat State Co-operative Union is headed by Mr. Ghanshyambhai H. Amin, a conscientious, hard-working, and visionary who has gained fame and name at the state, national, and international levels and who has contributed significantly to the development of state, national, and international cooperative activities. Mr. Ghanshyambhai H. Amin has been conscientiously leading the State Co-operative Union since 1993 as the President.
The administrative arrangements of the State Co-operative Union are made by a Governing Body having 23 members. A standing committee of the Union’s Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and two Honorary Secretary and Office bearers function to make important administrative decisions.
