Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses of Cooperatives - with Special Reference to the Development of Cooperative Movement in Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Cooperation for a layman can be understood as ‘working together’ or ‘acting together to accomplish the common goal’. The feeling of togetherness makes cooperation important in human society. Keeping in mind this basic principle of cooperation, the cooperative movement has brought revolution in society. Today, there are many types of cooperatives serving different needs of the people engaged in different segments of the economy. Cooperatives have their own advantages and disadvantages. The cooperative principles have made the revolution wide-spread not only in India but also overseas. Similarly, there are various challenges faced by cooperatives at different stages of economic and social development. There are several factors which can be considered as strength of the cooperatives and also there are others which can be considered as the weaknesses. The cooperative movement in India has long history and it has witnessed both strengths and weaknesses through different phases of the developments of the movement. The present study is an attempt to identify the factors which have proved to be strength of the cooperatives. Similarly factors proving to be weaknesses of cooperatives are also to be identified. An attempt has been made to review challenges before the cooperatives in different phases of the development as well as in present times. As an illustrative analysis, cooperative development in Maharashtra has been highlighted.