-------------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help other CONSUMERS to be better informed. -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN writes to RCS, on the need to strengthen Grievance Redressal and Consumer Awareness for Co-operative Societies ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the International Day of Co-operatives, in a letter written to the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) Shri. Vikas S.N. Gaunekar, GOACAN has highlighted the need to strengthen Grievance Redressal and Consumer Awareness for Co-operative Societies. In its letter GOACAN has pointed out that financial frauds, cancellation of licences and lack of audits are some of the issues faced by Co-operative Societies that have created a sense of anxiety, uncertainty and mental tension among the consumers. Co-operative Societies will face challenges and problems along the way but the important part of the journey of these Societies must be to focus on preventing problems and finding solutions. GOACAN in its letter has stated that as Goa is confronted with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to create a sense of confidence among the Co-operative Societies so as to be able to face the challenges that will arise due to the difficult economic situation. GOACAN in its letter to the RCS has made the following recommendations: 1. There must be an emphasis on increased attendance and participation in the Annual General Body Meetings of the Co-operative Societies. There is also a need to highlight the trends in attendance, participation & decision making at AGMs in the last 10 years by undertaking studies of the same through MOUs with the Economics & Commerce Departments of Government Colleges. 2. There must be an emphasis on effective Grievance Redressal by ensuring that Quarterly Reports of the matters redressed and the Analysis of the same is given wide publicity. 3. There must be Sensitization & Awareness programmes for the office-bearers and the staff of the Co-operative Societies on various related Acts & Rules like Consumer Protection Act, Food Safety & Standards Act, Right To Information Act, Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act among others. 4. There must be increased Consumer Awareness by organising joint programmes at the District & Taluka level for the members of Co-operative Societies in collaboration with the Department of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Directorate of Industries, Trade & Commerce, Directorate of Food & Drug Administration, Department of Legal Metrology and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). 5. There must be capacity building programs for Co-operative Societies in the context of Urban Co-operative Banks and Multi-State Co-operative Banks being brought under the supervisory powers of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the recent amendments to the Banking Regulation Act. Special training must be provided with the assistance of the Economic Offences Cell & Cyber Crime Police Stations on fraud detection in online transactions, fake websites etc. 6. There must be time bound changes to the website so that it can cater to the present needs for accessibility and transparency of information & decision making. There is also the need to introduce regular communications (Weekly / Fortnightly Updates) with the Co-operative Societies by using email, whatsapp and other social media. http://www.coopgoa.gov.in/ It may be noted that 4th July 2020, the first Saturday of July is observed as International Day of Co-operatives by the United Nations and the International Cooperative Alliance. This day is considered an opportunity to promote and consolidate the Cooperatives Movement. "Co-operatives have been acknowledged as associations and enterprises through which citizens can effectively improve their lives while contributing to the economic, social, cultural and political advancement of the community and nation. The cooperative movement is highly democratic, locally autonomous, but internationally integrated and a form of organization of associations and enterprises whereby citizens themselves rely on self-help and their own responsibility to meet goals that include not only economic, but also social and environmental objectives such as overcoming poverty, securing productive employment and encouraging social integration." https://www.un.org/en/observances/cooperatives-day Copies of the GOACAN letter have been sent to the Chief Secretary, Secretaries for Finance, Cooperation, Civil Supplies & GAD and the DGP Goa Police. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Complaints Cell Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Complaints Cell Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mail to: goacancomplaintsc...@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------