Explain the policies and practices of Dairy co-operative.
Answers
The basic unit of the Anand Pattern is the village milk producers’ cooperative society. The functions of a dairy cooperative society can be classified into the following two categories:
1. Managerial
2. Operational
Managerial
The milk producers of the village with the support of the milk union form a village dairy cooperative society. The milk producers become members by buying a minimum of one share of the society and paying an entrance fee as per the bye-laws. All these members form the general body of the society, which has the supreme powers subject to the State Cooperative Act, Rules and Bye-laws. The society has an elected Managing Committee (MC) including the Chairman from amongst the member producers as per the provisions of the bye-laws. All the positions of the MC are honorary. The committee employs paid staff to run the day-to-day affairs of the society. The number of such staff depends upon the size of the business of the society.
The provisions of the bye-laws govern the term of the MC and the Chairman of the society. The committee decides policy matters and frames guidelines for efficient running of the society. The committee holds its monthly meetings to discuss issues pertaining to society, members, milk producers, suggestions/guidelines provided by the Milk Union and other relevant matters.
Operational
The society’s major operations can be classified in two groups: milk trading and providing input services. Milk trading involves reception, testing, local and sample milk sale, dispatch of milk to milk union, payment and accounts keeping. Input services include animal health coverage, breeding, supply of cattle feed, fodder development, clean milk production and extension services to producer members.