Vasco needs separate office for co-op societies: GCCI

Panaji: There is a pressing need to open an assistant registrar’s office in Vasco under the Western Zone to enhance regulatory compliance and provide quicker support for cooperative societies, said the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Wednesday. GCCI delegates met with the minister for cooperative societies, Subhash Shirodkar, and pointed out that clubbing Mormugao with Salcete under the South Zone office creates an overly large jurisdiction and operational inefficiencies.

GCCI said that Shirodkar responded positively to their proposal for an office in Mormugao, assuring it will be “considered at the earliest.” Shirodkar also agreed to a request for awareness workshops on the Goa State Cooperative Act, rules, and regulations, and to provide training on governance, compliance, financial management, and operational best practices, GCCI said.

The GCCI delegation included managing committee member Ralph de Sousa, director general Sanjay Amonkar, logistics committee chairman Chandrakant Gawas, and Sanket Kaskar, foreign trade officer. “Establishing a local office in Mormugao taluka would enhance accessibility, improve compliance, and support cooperative societies in the area,” said Sousa.

Shirodkar said that awareness sessions for cooperative societies in Goa will tackle challenges from recent act amendments and the increasing number of societies, prioritising Bicholim and Ponda talukas, where the cooperative movement is strongest.

Goa has over 5,000 cooperative societies, including 1,000 focused on consumer and producer marketing and credit. GCCI also urged Shirodkar to strategise repairing damaged wells. “The list is with the water resources department. The minister suggested that local self-bodies should submit proposals for cleaning and repairs of these wells,” said Sousa.