SEHKARTA BHAWAN SCHEME

BACKGROUND

Over the years, the Department of Cooperation has accelerated Cooperative movement in Punjab. There are nearly 22000 Cooperative Societies in the State. These have 43 lakh members with paid up share capital of Rs. 679.66 crore. Own funds of these societies are nearly Rs. 2250 crore whereas business turnover has crossed Rs. 1,16,000 crore in 1999. Cooperatives are identified now as key instrument of the State to develop and sustain its rural economy.

The Department of Cooperation is entrusted with the job of promoting, sustaining and guiding the Cooperative Societies in the State. It is also responsible for administration of the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 and the rules framed thereunder. The statutory functions of the Department under the Act vary from registration of the Cooperative Societies to that of the elections of their governing bodies, from inspection of societies to the hearing of arbitration or appeals in case of any dispute and from execution of awards to the liquidation of the societies. The developmental functions include planning, management and implementation of projects and schemes concerning promotion and development of Cooperatives.

The Department is headed by the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab who works under the control and supervision of Financial Commissioner (Cooperation). The Registrar, Cooperative Societies is assisted by five Additional Registrars, three Joint Registrars and two Deputy Registrars at the State level. In the field, there are three divisional Joint Registrars, seventeen Deputy Registrars and 33 Assistant Registrars. These officers are assisted by about 3060 inspectorial and ministerial staff to help and facilitate management and supervision of Cooperatives in the State.

Though management and supervision of the Cooperatives in the State has by and large been satisfactory, there is much that needs to be done to improve delivery and efficiency of the Department at district and sub-district level. One of the various factors impinging upon efficiency and delivery of the Department is lack of adequate infrastructure in the districts. The offices of the Department at district level are not only segregated from the offices of various Cooperatives but these also lack bare minimum facilities such as drinking water, clean and hygienic sitting and living space and other basic amenities. While the functionaries of the Department are unable to perform to their best because of lack of facilities and infrastructure, general public, particularly the members of the Cooperatives find it difficult to travel from one office to another for their day to day work at a higher travelling cost, lower delivery and greater fatigue. A broad view of dis-aggregated offices of the Department and Cooperatives at district level can be had from the statement attached as annex ‘A’.

With this background, it is proposed to converge services of the Department and Cooperatives at a place in all districts to improve their efficiency and delivery for which a scheme of development of ‘Sehkarta Bhawans’ at each of the 17 districts of the State is envisaged as per details given below:

Convergence of Services: Infrastructural Dimension (Development of Sehkarta Bhawans)

The scheme of convergence of services-infrastructural dimension envisages development of Sehkarta Bhawans at each of the 17 districts of the State to provide for modern and well equipped accommodation for the offices of the Department and Cooperatives at district level, which do not have their own buildings.

SCOPE

The Sehkarta Bhawans would accommodate offices of the Department and Cooperatives at district level with common facilities such as conference room, common fax station, common computer facilities, common PBX system, common generator room, common services such as drinking water, toilets etc. These Bhawans would also provide facilities for corporators’ meet and conferences. As far as possible, the Sehkarta Bhawans would also provide for commercial space to support and sustain activities of the Cooperatives.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the scheme would be as under:

• To ensure convergence of services at district level;

• To facilitate quick and effective delivery of services of Cooperatives and Department at district level;

• To help and promote activities of Cooperatives at district level; and

• To provide minimum basic amenities to employees of the Department and Cooperatives at district level.

ASSESSMENT OF DEMAND OF COVERED AREA

The demand of covered area at each of the 17 districts would vary depending upon requirements of the Department and Cooperatives at district level, which do not have their own buildings. It would be worked out by the Deputy Registrar concerned in keeping with the norms for various categories of officials and officers at the district level as prescribed by the State Government. In addition to the demand of the employees, requirement for facilities such as conference room, common fax station, common PBX system, common generator room, common computer facilities, common services such as drinking water, toilets etc. would also be worked out. District-wise demand would be verified and confirmed by the Coordination Group.

MODALITIES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Sehkarta Bhawans would be constructed at a place, which facilitates efficient working of the employees of the Department and Cooperatives and is convenient to general public.

Sehkarta Bhawans would be constructed by one of the selected Cooperatives, preferably the one having its own plot of land and building fund at the district level.

The design of the Bhawans would be standardised in keeping with varying demand of the districts as may be assessed by the Deputy Registrar concerned and confirmed by the Coordination Group. The Bhawans would be owned and maintained by the Cooperatives, which construct them.

In case of a district where no Cooperative has a piece of land, it should be desirable to expand or reconstruct existing building of one of the Cooperatives to accommodate all offices as may be necessary. Such building would be renamed as Sehkarta Bhawan.

All offices of the Department and Cooperatives other than the Cooperative constructing the Bhawan, which are presently housed in rented accommodation would be shifted to Sehkarta Bhawan.They would pay rent as per mutually settled terms.

Arrangements and processes for construction of Sehkarta Bhawans would be carried out by concerned Cooperatives in keeping with the established procedures in this behalf except that standard area and design of the building would need to be kept in view.

Construction of Sehkarta Bhawans would be planned, executed and over-seen by the BODs/Managing Committees of the concerned Cooperatives.

COORDINATION

A Coordination Group comprising of the following would be constituted to coordinate implementation of the scheme:

• Shri M.P. Pandove, :Chairman

Chief Auditor, Cooperative Societies, Punjab

• Joint Registrar, Cooperative Societies:Member

Patiala, Ferozepur and Jalandhar

 

• Shri P.S. Sidhu,:Convener

Additional Registrar (I), Cooperative

Societies, Punjab

Terms of reference of the group would be as follows:

1. to assess and confirm the demand of covered area in each district;

2. to identify a Cooperative organisation having requisite land and funds for the proposed Bhawans;

3. to get the plan and design of the building prepared;

4. to help and guide BODs in execution of the project; and

5. to supervise and monitor timely completion of quality work as per approved building plans under the scheme.

The group may co-opt any technical expert to assist them in performing the assigned tasks.