The Rajya Sabha passed The Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2023 on Tuesday. The Bill amends the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. It establishes the Co-operative Election Authority to conduct and supervise elections to the boards of multi-state co-operative societies. The Bill allows state co-operative societies to merge into an existing multi-state co-operative society. The Bill establishes the Co-operative Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development Fund for revival of sick multi-state co-operative societies. As per the Bill, the central government will appoint one or more Co-operative Ombudsman with territorial jurisdiction. The Ombudsman will inquire into complaints made by members of multi-state co-operative societies.
 
Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Minister of State for Cooperation BL Verma said, the cooperation ministry has taken a number of initiatives under leadership of cooperation minister Amit Shah in the past two years. He said the sector will contribute in a huge way in making India a five trillion dollar economy. He said that the bill will strengthen governance, enhance transparency, increase accountability and reform electoral processes in the Multi State Cooperative Societies.
 
Initiating discussion on the Bill, Niranjan Bishi of BJD raised concern over the technical issue of the Bill saying that it is against the spirit of definition of cooperative societies. Echoing the same view, S. Niranjan Reddy of YSR Congress raised apprehension of encroachment into state laws related to cooperatives. Dr. Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde of BJP lauded the decision of the government to create a separate Ministry of Cooperation. Dr. M Thambidurai of AIADMK, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar of BJP, V Vijaysai Reddy of YSR Congress, Mithlesh Kumar of BJP also spoke on the Bill.