AUTONOMY, GOVERNANCE AND EMPOWERMENT: STUDY OF SOUHARDA COOPERATIVES

Book Details:

• Author: Yashavantha Dongre (Editor)

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2024

• ISBN: 9788131613634

• Pages: 208

• Cover: Hardcover

About the Book

India hosts the world’s largest cooperative sector, yet this significant people-driven movement faces persistent structural challenges. One of the primary issues plaguing cooperatives is excessive government intervention, which curtails autonomy and innovation. This volume explores how Karnataka responded to this concern through the groundbreaking Souharda Cooperative Act of 1997, establishing a dual legislative framework for cooperatives that enabled the formation of autonomous, minimally regulated Souharda Cooperatives.

With more than 6,000 such cooperatives now operational under the Karnataka State Souharda Federal Cooperative, the model represents a distinctive shift in cooperative governance. These cooperatives, unlike others in the country, benefit from a quasi-legislative authority that empowers them with decision-making autonomy. The book examines whether this freedom has fostered better governance, improved financial stability, and greater innovation, and whether this model can be replicated across India or globally.

Structured in four sections—Context, Performance, Case Studies, and Conclusion—the book combines theoretical insights with rich field-based evidence. It features in-depth studies on youth leadership, women’s empowerment, climate initiatives, and digitization within cooperatives, along with case studies that demonstrate market-driven success and sustainable livelihoods. The concluding section offers a critical reflection on making autonomy truly effective in today’s dynamic socio-economic context.

Edited by Dr. Yashavantha Dongre, a distinguished scholar in commerce and cooperative studies, the volume brings together expert voices and is a must-read for policymakers, academics, cooperative leaders, and anyone interested in democratic, community-led economic models.