Cooperative Department

A&N Administration

Port Blair

BRIEF NOTE ON THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT

              The history of Cooperative Movement in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands started in the year 1946 with registration of the first Cooperative Society viz. Rangachang Cooperative Land Syndicate was registered under Cooperative Societies Act 1912.  The major development took place only after Independence with the influx of refugees brought under Colonization Schemes of the Government of India.  At present there are 1291 Nos. of Cooperative Societies with a total membership of 84791  comprising of 38.82% of the total adult population (Total adult population 218387 as per 2001 Census) and a share capital of Rs. 512.078   lakhs have been registered. During the year, 2009, 40 Nos. of Cooperative Societies have been registered with a total membership of 501 and paid up share capital of Rs. 5 lakhs.

                  The Cooperative Department is placed under the administrative control of the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Coop) A&N Administration.  At the departmental level, Registrar of coop. Societies is the head of Department assisted by 3 Deputy Registrar of Coop. Societies one each at Port Blair, Mayabunder and Car Nicobar, 12 Assistant Registrar of Coop. Societies, 36 Inspectors of Coop. Societies and 15 Sub-Inspector of Coop. Societies posted in different parts of the A&N Islands monitoring & supervising functioning of coop. societies, responsible for registration, Inspection, audit & supervision which are the main functioning of cooperative department under the statute of the A&N islands Coop. Societies Regulation, 1973 and rules framed there under  and the bye-laws framed by the respective coop. societies under the ambit of the said Regulation & Rules.

              The Cooperative movement has gained importance among the aboriginal tribes Viz., Andamanees, Ongees and Nicobarees whose life style and economic stay fully dependent on plantation produces like coconut and Arecanut are brought under Cooperative fold. Every village in Car Nicobar and Nancowry Group of islands has a coop. society viz. Panam Hinengos and all heads of families of each village are its members.

              The Cooperative Societies of this Union Territory has been classified into three categories viz. Apex level Cooperative Societies, Central level Cooperative Societies and Primary level Cooperative Societies.

Apex Level Cooperative Societies

1. Andaman and Nicobar State Cooperative Bank Ltd, Port Blair :-

The bank functions with 29 branches in all major pockets of these Islands and most of them are computerized. During this year the Bank has installed 05 Nos of ATM at Diglipur, Mayabunder, Rangat, Garachrama-I and Head Office, Port Blair. The bank is planning to introduce core banking system to facilitate the customers.  

2. Andaman & Nicobar Cooperative Supply & Marketing Federation Ltd (ANCOFED):-  

              The Federation is an Apex level Marketing Cooperative society. It mainly deals with the marketing of agriculture produce like copra and areca nut. It is a Nodal Agency of NAFED for dealing in procurement of copra through its 9 branches under Price support Scheme (PSS) of Govt. of India. The annual turn over of ANCOFED is 3.63 crores.

Central Level Cooperatives

1. The Consumers Cooperative Stores Ltd, Port Blair:-

              The store is having 51 retail outlets functioning in almost every part of the Union Territory .  This society trades in all type of daily need consumer items and essential commodities. It has Mobile Shops to cater the need of customers of the remote villages. Distribution of LPG is one the prime activities of the store. The annual turn over of the CCS Ltd is around 41 Crores.

2. The Central Cooperative Welfare Society Ltd, Port Blair:-

              This society mainly trades in hardware and textiles through its 14 branches.  The Society is the stockiest of Hardware & Building Materials & NTC fabrics.  The annual turn over of CCWS is more than 14 Crores.

3. Ellon Hinengo Ltd :-

              The society mainly trades in marketing of copra produced by the tribals of Car Nicobar and also engaged in Consumer business for distribution of essential commodities through its 13 retail outlets. All the head of Nicobaree families are members of 15 Panam Hinengoes (Primary level Cooperatives) in Car Nicobar which are affiliated to Ellon Hinengo Ltd. This society has also its own shipping fleet, Petrol Pump, Engineering division for undertaking Civil Contract Works, breakwater construction etc. The annual turn over of the EHL is around 31.14 Crores during 2009-2010.

Cooperative Union

              The A&N State Cooperative Union with its headquarters at Port Blair, Nicobar District Cooperative Union with its headquarters at Car Nicobar also contributes towards the development of Cooperative Movement.  These Unions are engaged is spreading the message of cooperatives by organizing seminars, workshops and imparting training to the members and office bearers of the Cooperative Societies with the aid of Cooperative Department. During this year another Cooperative Union namely North & Middle Andaman District Cooperative Union has also been registered with its headquarter at Mayabunder to expand the Cooperative Movement to all the nook and corner of these Islands .

 Primary Level Cooperative Societies

1. Educated Unemployed Cooperative Societies

              At present, under this Sector 490 construction/Labour Contract & Tourism Cooperative Societies are in existence with a total membership of 8015.  These Cooperatives mainly undertakes the civil construction/Labour contract works of PRIs, Govt. departments and other work awarding agencies. The Cooperatives organized by unemployed youths are engaged in construction of rural roads, footpath, drains, retaining walls and ring well etc. under the aegis of PRIs and APWD. The contribution of this sector to resolve unemployment problem of these islands is commendable and more and more educated unemployed youths are resorting on such cooperatives to find their livelihood. The Administration has also extended special privileges to encourage youths to take up self employment through Cooperatives.

2. Credit Cooperatives

There are 45 Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS) to  cater the credit and infrastructural need of the farmer members. On the other hand 33 Non-Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies are also functioning in different parts of this territory to meet the financial requirements of its members from own fund and by obtaining finance from Apex Cooperative Bank.

2. Fisheries Cooperatives :-

              At present there are 99 Primary Fisheries Cooperative Societies in these Islands engaged in catch and sale of fish in the local market/other market to fetch remunerative price to its members. The department has devised scheme to provide loan-cum-subsidy to the fisher cooperative to the tune of Rs. 25 lakhs for purchasing trawler for deep sea fishing.

Assistance in the shape of infrastructure provided by the department

              The Cooperative department has constructed 7 vegetable Shops in different places of Port Blair Municipal areas viz. Goal Ghar, Dairy Farm, Ponghy Chang, Haddo, Shadipur and Naya Gaon and let out to vegetable growers Cooperative Societies. 

              Besides, the department has also constructed a Wholesale Vegetable Market at Phoenix Bay , Port Blair near Phoenix Bay Power House and allotted among the Cooperative Societies engaged in marketing of vegetable, fruits, poultry products and Fish for whole sale & retail sale at a reasonable price. 

Annual Plan Scheme

              The Cooperative Department through its Annual Plan Schemes No.1 & 2 provides financial assistance to various cooperatives in the shape of Government Share Capital participation, Govt. Working capital Loan, Loan-cum-subsidy, Grant-in-aid and Managerial Subsidy. During the current financial year 2009-2010 altogether 28 different cooperative societies have been identified to provide the above financial assistance.  

Information/Reports in Downloadable Format

1. Annual Report 2011 - 2012

2. List of Cooperative Societies

3. Draft 12th Five Year Plan 2012 - 2017

4. Draft Annual Plan 2012 - 2013

Contacts