Cooperative Legislation in Asia-A Study. Part 2- Analysis Made by National Consultants From India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand

Abstract

Cooperative legislation in most countries of Asia was initiated by the colonial rulers who had found in cooperatives a useful agency to provide relief to farmers and workers. Somehow they did not want cooperatives to become a ground of peoples aspirations and possible development of political leadership. They developed the cooperative system in such a way that the cooperative office-bearers remained politically loyal to the government. This was achieved through the agency of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies who was usually a senior, efficient bureaucrat and known as friend, philosopher and guide. The government also ensured that the cooperative movement remained dependent on the government for all the needs of credit and distribution of essential items.In the last four decades, all Asian countries have become free from colonial rule and along with that there have been many changes in the cooperative laws, policies towards cooperatives and application of the cooperative laws. While there has been increased commitment and support for the cooperatives by the governments, there has also been, in some cases, not only more control over the affairs of the cooperatives, but they have often been treated as government corporations or agencies, changing the basic nature of the cooperative institutions. Instead of making the cooperative legislation friendly towards the cooperative members, the trend has been to concentrate more powers in the hands of the Cooperative Registrar. In some cases the cooperative legislation denuded the cooperative institution^ of their freedom of decision making and action. Such trends are not in the spirit of democratic control and freedom of action and decision-making. These and several other such points demanded an indepth study of existing cooperative laws in some selected countries of the Region.