Pune: “In order to help old cooperative housing societies carry out their redevelopment process on their own, Maharashtra Cooperative Development Corporation (MCDC) will provide financial assistance to them at a reasonably low interest rate,” said Subhash Deshmukh, Maharashtra’s Cooperative, Textile and Marketing Minister.
He was speaking at a workshop for the members of cooperative housing societies in Kothrud organised by Federation of Cooperative Housing Societies, Cooperative Department, Maharashtra and MLA Medha Kulkarni. The workshop was attended by members of cooperative housing societies in a large number. A book by Sakal Publication, authored by Manisha Prabhu, ‘Gruhanirmaan Sanstheche Sulabh Vyavasthapan’ (Society By-Laws) was also published by the minister at the event.
Speaking at the event, Deshmukh said cooperative housing societies face many problems. However, instead of pointing fingers at members or other societies, the societies need to come together under the banner of organisations like the Federation of Cooperative Housing Societies and collectively find solutions to their problems.
Co-operatives Commissioner Dr Vijay Zade, State Cooperative Election Authority (SCEA) Commissioner Madhukar Chaudhari, Chairman of Pune District Cooperative Housing Federation Suhas Patwardhan, Adv Jayant Kulkarni were among the others present on the occasion.
Deshmukh said, “As societies face many difficulties in order to take up the redevelopment project, the corporation has decided to aid them in whatever way possible. While we will be able to grant them loans, we will try to keep the interest rate for the same at as low as 4 per cent.”
Deshmukh answered queries by the members of the societies who were attending the workshop. Kulkarni said, “The queries and issues of the housing societies will not be kept limited to this workshop alone. We are working towards building a permanent mechanism in order to deal with them more efficiently.”
Speaking about the elections and how they help in maintaining the transparency, Chaudhary said, “Cooperative housing societies across the state carry out elections. However, we have observed that the least number of these elections in the state take place in Pune. The residents themselves need to take initiative to see to it that elections take place.”
