TAG: GS-2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
CONTEXT: India will host the General Assembly and Global Conference of the International Cooperative Alliance for the first time in November 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
EXPLANATION:
Why in News?
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- Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has taken the initiative to host the ICA General Assembly and Global Cooperative Conference.
- The Global Cooperative Conference in India will also mark the official launch of the ‘UN International Year of Cooperatives-2025’.
- The theme of the conference is “Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All”.
About International Cooperative Alliance (ICA):
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- The ICA is a non-profit international association which unites, represents and serves cooperatives worldwide.
- Founded in 1895, it is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations and one of the largest ones measured by the number of people represented with one billion cooperative members on the planet.
- It is the apex body representing cooperatives, which are estimated to be around 3 million worldwide, providing a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise, and coordinated action for and about cooperatives.
- The ICA is the guardian of the Statement on the Cooperative Identity, which includes a definition, 10 values, and 7 operational principles; it is the minimum common denominator for all cooperatives in all sectors and all regions.
- The ICA’s members are international and national cooperative organisations from all sectors of the economy.
- More than 306 organisations from 105 countries are members of the ICA.
- ICA operates a central office in Brussels, Belgium, and four regional offices for Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
- The ICA structure also hassectoral organisations for cooperatives active in agriculture, industry and services, consumer retail, banking, fisheries, health, housing, and insurance.
What is a Cooperative?
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
Constitutional Provisions for Cooperatives in India:
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- 97th Constitutional Amendment: Added Part IXB (The Co-Operative Societies) to the Constitution.
- The Right to Form Cooperative Societies was included as the Right to Freedom under Article 19 (1).
- Article 43-B that deals with Promotion of Cooperative Societies was also inserted as one of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
- Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023: Amendment has been brought in the MSCS Act, 2002 to strengthen governance, enhance transparency, increase accountability, reform electoral process and incorporate provisions of 97th Constitutional Amendment in the Multi State Cooperative Societies.
- 97th Constitutional Amendment: Added Part IXB (The Co-Operative Societies) to the Constitution.
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