Experts welcomed the cooperative commissioner’s decision to conduct a survey of cooperative societies and liquidate those found defunct, but MahaSEWA said efforts should be made to carry out the survey through an online registration process which will leave officers with more time to act against defunct societies.

Commissioner of Cooperative and Registrar of Cooperative Society Anil Kawade told mid-day, “At present we do not have exact data on functional and non-functional cooperative societies (other than housing societies) which are registered with us across the state. Once we have this data, we will be able to carry out the next course of action, adhering to the process of law before carrying out the liquidation of defunct societies. Our aim is to strengthen the cooperative moment, and bring in the much-required transparency and good governance in cooperative department and its functioning.”