Operational perforformance of co-operative organization – A case study on Bihpuria Co-operative Soceity Ltd., Lakhimpur, Assam

Co-operative Organization is playing a major role in the socio-economic development of a nation. The concept of Co-operative was existed in our country since time immemorial. The passages of the Co-operative Credit Societies Act, 1904 can be treated as the first milestone of this movement. After this another Co-operative Societies Act was enacted in our country in 1912.

In Assam the Co-operative movement had been started after the enactment of the Co-operative Societies Act, 1904. Here it is to be mentioned that after registration under Co-operative Societies Act, a Co-operative Society will attain the corporate status and will become entitled to certain privileges. It will subject to control and supervision by the State. In case of Assam the Registrar of Co-operation department of the Government even approves the appointments of managerial personnel of the society and lays down terms of employment.

At present apart from other Co-operative Societies there are 709 number of village panchayat level co-operative societies functioning in Assam under the supervision and control of Registrar of Co-operative Societies. But these societies are not in a position to purchase the commodities from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), other agencies and suppliers. In every month they are required to collect money from the agents of the society. Keeping in mind, the above points of view, here an attempt has been made to study the operational performance of Co-operative organization in a Cooperative Society which is located in the Lakhimpur district, Assam.

For this purpose, the paper has divided into six parts. It begins with introduction followed by objectives of the study and methodology which explains brief history of Bihpuria Co-operative Society, number of shareholders, nature of business, Reserve Fund and working capital management. The fourth and fifth parts of the paper are associated with results and suggestions. The paper ends with conclusion.