Election for cooperative societies soon
Udhagamandalam: With the elections to various cooperative societies in the Nilgiris due to take place soon, arrangements have gathered momentum.According to the Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies, the Nilgiris, P. Meenakshisundaram, though there are 208 societies in the district only 150 will go to the polls.He told media persons here on Monday that following the implementation of the loan waiver scheme, all the members of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks including defaulters had been made eligible to participate.However, 5,153 persons who had not been prompt in repaying non-farm sector loans could vote, but could not contest.Fifty-three persons charged with mismanagement while being on the board of some of the societies could not contest.Pointing out that the elections would be held in a phased manner, he said that nominations would be filed as follows: July 2 for 37 societies, July 5 for 36, July 9 for 35 and on July 13 for 35.The schedule for the remaining seven institutions including the marketing societies and Central Cooperative Banks would be drawn up later.Withdrawal of nominations would be allowed on July 3, 6, 10 and 14.Among the elected members 30 per cent would be women and 18 per cent SC and ST candidates.He said only those who had enrolled their names before May 24, 2001, would be eligible to vote. The total number was about 1.93 lakhs.Mr. Meenakshisundaram added that the district administration and the police had been requested to provide adequate security for the elections.
