Viswanathan Committee against Govt nominations in Coop sector

Bangalore, May 22 (UNI) The Vishwanathan Committee, constituted by the Karnataka Government to suggest amendments to the State Cooperative Act, has recommended to stop nominations by the Government in the Cooperative sector.

The Committee, headed by Mr B S Viswanathan and having former Minister M C Nanaiah and Legislator Shivananda Patil as its members, submitted the report yesterday to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Disclosing the highlights of the report, Mr Nanaiah said there should be no interference by the Government in the functioning of Cooperative institutions. ''Development of Cooperative sector has been hampered due to too much of interference by the Government, especially by making nominations. This should be stopped immediately.'' He said the Union Government had come out with a Rs 14,500 crore proposal for restructuring the Cooperative sector in the country and it had sent Memoranda of Understanding to all the States for signing. The Committee had urged the Chief Minister to sign the MoU without much delay.

''If the State Government signs the MoU, it will immediately get Rs 600 crore for restructuring the Cooperative sector,'' he added.

Mr Nanaiah said it was disappointing to note that the Bharatiya Janata Party, a coalition Government partner which was against Government nominations all these days, had changed its stand after assuming power.

He said the Committee had also recommended auditing of Cooperative institutions by Chartered Accountants instead of Deputy Registrar at present. A Minister in the State or Union Cabinet should not become President or Vice-President in any Cooperative Society, he added.

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