Akshat Awasthi - 65 Chetan Gala Bhupendra Gupta- 77 Abhinay Pokharna-88 Priyanka Poyrekar-89 Parth Savla -93 Pranita Sharma

-101 Rahul Sheth -103 Steffi Singh -106

Voluntary association of persons of the weaker section of the society, to meet their common socio-economic and cultural needs.

Co-operative housing activity is the best means of providing decent houses at reasonable costs to persons, particularly of low and middle income groups of similar interest

which is formed for all or any of the objects referred to in section five of the act 1958; which has under its rules a share capital divided into equal shares of one or more classes and not being preferential shares.

To enable each of its members:to purchase land and to erect a dwelling-house thereon; or

to erect a dwelling-house on land already owned by him

To maintain and keep in proper repair his dwelling-house

To erect a dwelling-house on land leased by him for a term of not less than 50 years

Minimum number of persons 25. The society's object should be promotion of the economic interests of its members. The proposed society should be capable of being run on economically sound lines. The registration of the proposed society should not have an adverse effect on the cooperative movement. The prospective members should contribute a minimum amount of share capital prescribed by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies for the particular type of society to be started.

A co-operative society can be registered in Maharashtra State with the Registrar of Cooperative Societies. Any person competent to contract, as per the Indian contract Act, 1872 can join in the formation of a co-operative. A group of ten persons, who reside in the area of operation of the proposed society and are from different families, can join in application for registration of a society. A society with the objects of promoting the economic interests or the general welfare of the members only can be registered.

Registration can be obtained from the registrar on filling up the application form with the necessary fees and the bye-laws. A Co-operative Society can enter into collaboration with any Government Undertaking or any other undertaking with the prior permission of the State Government for business. It can also enter into a partnership with other cooperatives

Tenant Ownership: In the case where the land is owned by the Society and the structure on the plot is owned by the members. Individual members are allotted plots by the co-operative to construct their houses. The society creates infrastructure and may also arrange the finance for the members. Tenant Co-partnership: The land and the constructed structure is owned by the society and the members who are allotted the flats have the easement rights.

Builder Co-operative: where the builder floats a housing scheme and sells the flats. The buyers of the flats then organize into a housing society. Such societies are merely service societies or maintenance societies. Ownership cooperative: - In this case, people working in an organization come together and form them into a housing cooperative society. They get their society register, apply to MAHADA. (MAHARASHTRA HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY) and get a plot allotted to them in LIG, MIG, and HIG i.e.: low income group, middle income group, high income group. Once the plot is sanctioned they approach a construction company and depending on their budget build up housing society. E.g.: Gulmohar cooperative housing society situated at Ceissor road, Andheri (west) is the housing complex of the ICICI officers.

1. No person shall be admitted as member of a co-operative society unless

He has applied in writing in the form laid down by the co-operative society or in the form specified by the Registrar. His application is approved by the committee of the co-operative society.

He has fulfilled all other conditions laid down in the Act, the Rules and the Bye-laws.
In case of a Cooperative Housing Society, he has been a resident of the particular area for a minimum period of three years at the time of applying for a membership in such society.

2. In case of vacancy in a housing society including group housing society where layout and building plans have been approved by the competent authority, the same shall be filled by the committee by notifying it in leading daily newspaper . In case the number of applications is more than the notified vacancies the membership shall be finalized through draw in the presence of the Registrar.

Committee of Management, initially nominated by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies and subsequently elected by the General Body once every 3 years. Members of the committee of management Every Society shall call Annual General Meeting within a period of three months . Special General Meeting can be called by the Chairman or majority of the members . The Registrar also has the powers to call for a Special General meeting.

Failure to call for this meeting may attract penalty for the Managing Committee.

Reservation for the weaker section. If a Managing Committee of a Society is not duly constituted, an Administrator may be appointed by the Registrar. A member of the Managing committee can also be removed by the Registrar for negligent performance. Office bearers of a Society can be removed by the way of No confidence motion. Such a no confidence motion has to be supported by at least one-third of the members of the managing Committee.

Right to get certificate of allotment:Every member of a co-operative housing society, whether registered before or after the commencement of this Act shall be issued certificate of allotment by the co-operative housing society under its seal and signature Right to undivided interest in common area:Every member of a co-operative housing society shall be entitled to an undivided interest in the common areas and facilities pertaining to the plot of land or dwelling unit allotted to him. Right to use the common area:Every member of a co-operative housing society to whom a plot of land or a dwelling unit has been allotted shall have the right to use the common areas and facilities as prescribed by the cooperative housing society.

Right to attend meeting and vote:A member has right to attend all the meetings of the society and vote Right to contest election:A member has right to stand for the election of the management committee. Right to seek information from the society:A member can seek information relating to any transaction of the cooperative housing society and the society is required to furnish such information within 30 days from the request. Duties:- The society should not discriminate between members and should not place unlawful restrictions on them. Besides this, the society should be prompt in attending to the complaints and grievances of the members as to provision of services.

No funds shall be divided among its members, other than the net profits earned by the Society. Remuneration can be paid to the Managing Committee members for services provided by them to the Society. Net Profit earned by the Society can be appropriated by the members with the approval of the Annual General Meeting. Reserve fund shall be maintained by the Society. Investments of Funds shall be made as per the guidelines prescribed in the Maharashtra Co-operative societies Act, 1960. Audit, Inquiry Inspection and Supervision of Societies. The Registrar of Co-operative Societies makes it compulsory for every Government -aided Co-operative Society to audit its accounts at least once in a co-operative year (i.e. April - March). The Registrar can inspect the working of the Society on his own or on application of its creditors. The Registrar can order for compensation, if it is found that any person has misapplied or retained any property, or money of the Society, or has caused breach of trust.

The member is responsible: As a member, to participate in the smooth operation and democracy of the co-operative. To attend general meetings. To participate in setting policy. As a tenant, to pay rent. To behave responsibly towards other tenants and other duties as laid out in the tenancy agreement/license. As a director, to ensure that the co-operative is run in a fit & proper manner. All directors are responsible for ensuring that tasks are carried out. Even when tasks have been delegated, all directors are equally responsible for monitoring them. To make management decisions.

The co-operative is responsible: To provide tenants with suitable housing, and other duties as laid out in The tenancy agreement/license. To conduct business in a fit & proper manner. To keep accurate records & accounts of the business of the co-operative. In practice many of the co-operatives tasks are delegated to individuals. However, all directors are equally responsible for ensuring they are carried out and making checks.

Inadequate finance:

In the measure metros, housing finance cooperatives are offering loans at very competitive rates. However in semi urban and rural areas, there is no institutional finance available for building houses. The housing urban developmental cooperative (HUDCO) has launched retail finance for rural and semi urban areas and under them NIWAS scheme sanctioned over 1500 crores and build over 1 million houses as on dec 2004. In the busy city like Mumbai, both husband and wife is working having a very hectic work schedule. They are already under pressure of managing there households and careers. They do not have time to socialize and neither contributes proactively for the development of housing cooperative. Most of the staff of housing cooperative is either retired people or people who have taken VRS and are compensated very poorly for services they offer. The young blood is missing in management of cooperative as they do not pay handsome salaries.

Disinterested members:

The office bearers are poorly paid: