Citizens Charter of Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department

Cooperatives all over the world have become an effective and potential instrument of economic development. The cooperative movement in Tamilnadu has over the decades witnessed substantial growth in diverse areas. There is not a single major sphere of economic activity which has not been touched by cooperatives. Cooperatives are also envisaged as an instrument for implementing many important policies like agricultural credit, urban credit, market intervention, price support for agricultural commodities through cooperative wholesale stores, public distribution system etc.,

From a small beginning, the cooperative movement in Tamilnadu has grown in strength over the years. Opening of a village cooperative credit society in Thiroor in Thiruvallore district in 1904 marked the advent of the cooperative movement in Tamilnadu ushering in a new era of services for the people of the state, particularly the agriculturist families. From agricultural banks to marketing societies and consumer cooperative stores, cooperatives provide services to the people in various economic activities. Cooperatives also run the public distribution system which provides relief to each and every family in the State.

f) Co-operation among Cooperatives for the promotion of thrift, self help and mutual aid among persons with common socio-economic needs; and

The co-operative societies functioning in Tamil Nadu are governed by the following:

The Registrar of Cooperative Societies being the head of the department is functioning at Chennai. The Registrar of Cooperative Societies is assisted by Additional Registrars of Cooperative Societies, Joint Registrars of Cooperative Societies and Deputy Registrars of Cooperative Societies at the Headquarters. A Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies is in-charge of each region. Circle Deputy Registrars of Cooperative Societies are working under their control.

There are twenty nine regions in the State with a Joint Registrar incharge of each region (District). The regional Joint Registrars are responsible for the proper functioning of the cooperative societies in the district (i.e) cooperative credit institutions, consumer cooperatives, cooperative marketing and processing societies, farming societies and special type of cooperative societies like labour contract societies.

There are two Joint Registrars (Public Distribution System) in Chennai, exclusively to attend to the work relating to distribution of essential commodities through the public distribution system outlets of the cooperative societies functioning in Chennai City and belt areas.

The State has been divided into 63 circles for the administration of the department. The circles on the territorial basis are generally coterminus with the Revenue Division. In Chennai City, however, there are two circles which are functioning on functional basis, one for credit and the other for non-credit cooperatives. The circle Deputy Registrars are working under the immediate control of regional Joint Registrars. Many of the powers of the Registrar under the Tamilnadu Cooperative Societies Act, 1983 and the rules framed thereunder have been delegated to circle Deputy Registrars in respect of primary cooperatives. The Deputy Registrar attends to the inspection and supervision of all cooperative societies in his circle and discharge all statutory functions relating to the societies, such as enquiry, arbitration, execution, liquidation etc. A circle Deputy Registrar is assisted by few Cooperative Sub Registrars and a complement of Senior Inspectors , Junior Inspectors and other ministerial staff.

Apart from the regular circle Deputy Registrars, in every district, there is one Deputy Registrar (Public Distribution System) with a complementary staff for the supervision of fair price shops. They are also working under the direct control of the regional Joint Registrars.

There are seven Deputy Registrars (Public Distribution System) in Chennai City functioning under the direct control of Joint Registrar (Public Distribution System) Chennai. They are inspecting the various public distribution system outlets of the cooperative societies functioning in Chennai City.

There are six apex level cooperative institutions viz., Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank, Tamil Nadu Cooperative State Agriculture and Rural Development Bank, Tamil Nadu Cooperative Marketing Federation (TANFED), Tamil Nadu Co-operative Consumer Federation (TNCCF), Tamil Nadu Cooperative Union, Tamil Nadu State Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks, functioning with their area of operation extending over the entire state.

The District Central Cooperative Banks, District Cooperative Unions, Cooperative Printing Presses, Cooperative Wholesale Stores are functioning with area of operation confined to the respective district. Urban Cooperative Banks are functioning with area of operation confined to respective urban areas. The area of operation of Co-operative Marketing Societies are the respective taluks. Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks are functioning with area of operation at Block/ Taluk level. The Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks and Primary Cooperative Stores are functioning at Primary level covering villages.

An application for registration of a cooperative society shall be made to the concerned circle Deputy Registrars in prescribed format for any specific purpose. The application shall be signed atleast by 25 eligible members.

Necessary assistance and guidance can be got from the Extension Officer (Cooperation) who is working in each Panchayat Union Office.

Citizens can organise any type of cooperative society as they have variety of needs and services subject to the provisions of Tamil Nadu Cooperative Societies Act, 1983 and Rules 1988. Types of co-operative societies now functioning in the state catering to various needs of citizens are furnished here under:-

Sl.No	Purpose served	Type of Cooperative Societies.
1.	For Agriculturist at village level	Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks
2.	For Urban People (Urban Area)	Cooperative Urban Banks
3.	For sale of Agricultural produce at remunerative price and to get loan on the pledge of produce.	Agricultural Producers Cooperative Marketing Societies.
4.	Loans for Minor Irrigation, Farming, Seri culture , Horticulture, Non Farm sector, Tractor requirement	Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks.
5.	For getting consumer goods at right price, and right weighment.	Primary Cooperative Stores, Cooperative Wholesale Stores, Cooperative Super Markets.
6.	For employees in Government Department, Government sector, public sector, private sector.	Employees Thrift and Credit Cooperative Societies.
7.	For Barbers and Washermen	Barbers Cooperative societies and Washermen Cooperative Societies.
8.	For Labourers	Labour Contract Cooperative societies.
9.	For Vegetable Growers	Vegetable Growers Cooperative Marketing Societies.

Type of Cooperative Society	Who is to be contacted	Purpose for which loan can be obtained	Maximum Amount of loan. Rs.	Rate of Interest (subject to change)
1. Primary Agri-cultural Cooperative Banks	Secretary/ Special Officer	1) Crop loans Sugarcane (Registered) - upto 10 acres according to scale of Finance.	1,00,000	Upto 25000 12% 25000 to 50000 13% above 50000 14%
		2) Loan on title deeds	5,00,000	18%
		3) Site purchase	20,000	19%
		4) House extension, renovation	50,000	18%
		5) Construction of House	1,00,000	18%
		6) Purchase of passenger bus, Mini lorry, Car, Jeep	10,00,000	18%
		7) Sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, Laying pipe lines	25,000	18%
		8) For two wheelers	35,000	18%
		9) Consumer durables	25,000	18%
		10) SSI unit	10,00,000	18%
		11) For Registered medical practitioners & Engineering graduates	10,00,000	18%
		12) Produce pledge loan	75,000	18%
		13) Salary loan for government employees	50,000	18%
		14) Purchase of agricultural lands and for discharge of prior debts	1,00,000	18%
		15) Marriage loan	1,00,000	18%
		16) For Traders cash credit	50,000	18%
		17) Jewel loan	1,00,000	14%
		18) Members Children Educational Loan	5,000	18%
		19) "Thina Tandal" Loan	5000	20%
		20) Tractor, Power Tiller	75% of cost	18%
		21) Shopping complex and community hall	10,00,000	19%
		22) Computer centre	10,00,000	18%
		23) Professional courses	50,000	18%
		24) Revamped Micro credit	Rs.100 to 5000	11%
		25) Maternity loan through Self help group	2000	12%
2. Agri-cultural producers Coopera-tive Marketing society.	Special Officer	Sale of agricultural produce at higher prices, produce pledge loan for agriculturists	50,000	16%

3. Urban Cooperative Banks	General Manager/ Special Officer	For Urban citizens 1) Jewel loans	1,00,000	12%
		2) (a) House construction	5,00,000	13%
		(b) Renovation and repairs	75,000	15%
		3) Purchase of two wheelers, T.V., Fridge, House hold articles	75% of the cost of the vehicle or articles.	18%
		4) For professional like Doctors, Engineers, Xerox operators.	10,00,000	16 to 18%
		5)For self employed persons such as printing press, ready made garments etc.,	10,00,000	15%
		6) For economicallly backward class citizen TABCEDCO/ TAMCO, loan given to public belonging to Backward class, MBC and minorities at lower rate of interest.	1,00,000	7.5%
		7) For surety loan, loan on N.S.C	5000	15%
		8) Revamped Micro credit loan for women.