Making housing societies self-reliant initiative gets federation’s thumbs up

The state cooperative housing federation has applauded the cooperative departments initiative to train societies to become selfreliant and have an inhouse dispute redressal mechanismmidday on July 11 reported about the concept which is the brainchild of Anil Kawade the commissioner for cooperation and registrar cooperative societies Maharashtra To encourage societies to address issues like waste disposal power water conservation and adopt methods for transparent functioning of the society affairs the commissioner also announced an award Best Cooperative Housing Society AwardThe Maharashtra State Cooperative Housing Federation Ltd will also release on social media a video on lsquodispute redressal cooperative educationrsquo It has also come up with suggestions on the implementation of the lsquogreen solutionsrsquo conceptAdvocate Shreeprasad Parab expert director of the federation said ldquoMumbai faced the issue of water scarcity before the 2005 deluge Since then the corporation has been insisting on the need to have rainwater harvesting solar panels waste disposal etc Since most of the housing societies in Mumbai and the neighbouring regions are old theres space constraint especially for the rainwater harvesting system which requires large underground tanks for storageldquoHence we advise such societies to adopt a mechanism wherein rainwater from the terrace passes through designated pits on the ground which will increase the groundwater level Bore wells can be used to use the water for gardens washrooms etcrdquo Parab addedDispute redressalParab said the dispute redressal mechanism covers three broad categories The first category involves the proper administration of the housing society which entails holding timely General Body meetings audits etc Second the implementation of new policies beneficial to the members like solar system rainwater harvesting waste treatment EV charging stations etc Third resolving the dispute at the committee levelldquoThe committee shall inform the member of the decision within 15 days after the meeting If the member is not satisfied shehe can refer the concern to the Dispute Redressal Committeerdquo he addedAbout the committeeParab said the dispute redressal committee shall include five individualsmdashtwo noncommittee members of the society one should be appointed as the chairman one person from the existing committee the societyrsquos auditor and a representative from the district housing federationldquoThe above members shall be selected depending upon their social relations with the society and its members The committee should hear and try to resolve every dispute within 45 days from its receipt In case of nonresolution the dispute shall be referred to the proper forum as per the provisions of lawrdquo Parab saidHe added ldquoThe housing society interested to implement the programme shall inform the registrar before December 31 about their participation The housing federations shall implement the above said programme and try to make the housing society dispute freerdquoldquoThe implementation of the Dispute Redressal system will grow the seeds of the spirit of common brotherhood education healthy environment equality freedom of speech and expression upliftment of members in the society etc It is the complete fulfillment of the socialist concept as provided in the Indian Constitutionon the basis of which the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act 1960 is enactedrdquo Parab concluded