Registration of Women’s Cooperative Credit Societies for Beneficiaries of ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin’ Scheme

Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil Shares Details

Mumbai : The Maharashtra Government has taken a significant step toward the economic empowerment of women under its flagship initiative, the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme. Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil announced that registered women’s urban cooperative credit societies will be set up with the active participation of women beneficiaries themselves.

Minister Patil stated that registration will be conducted in accordance with government guidelines issued on March 8, 2019, for societies that meet specific criteria. These include minimum member numbers and capital requirements based on jurisdiction:

• For Ward-Level Societies (in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai):
  • Minimum 1,000 primary members
  • Share capital of ₹15 lakh at the time of registration
• Other Municipal Corporations:
  • Minimum 800 members
  • ₹10 lakh capital
• Municipal Corporation-Level Societies (Mumbai/Thane/Navi Mumbai):
  • 2,000 members
  • ₹30 lakh capital
• Other Municipal Corporation Areas:
  • 1,500 members
  • ₹20 lakh capital
• Municipal Councils:
  • 500 members
  • ₹5 lakh capital

For societies at different rural administrative levels:

• Village-Level Societies:
  • 250 members
  • ₹1.5 lakh capital
• Taluka-Level Societies:
  • 500 members
  • ₹5 lakh capital
• District-Level Societies:
  • 1,500 members
  • ₹10 lakh capital

These will be registered under the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, and the Rules of 1961.

Mandatory Requirements for Registration

The list of women beneficiaries must be certified by the Department of Women and Child Development. Background checks must be completed for all promoters. Each promoter must submit a certificate from the relevant police station confirming the absence of any criminal record. Additionally, an affidavit must be submitted before the Executive Magistrate including the following declarations:

• 100% completion of KYC for all customers
• Promoters must not be engaged in moneylending or similar professions
• Promoters must not be loan defaulters of any cooperative institution
• Promoters must not be directors of any other cooperative society

Failure to comply with these conditions will result in denial of registration.

Each registered credit society will be assigned a “Mentor Officer” — an Assistant Registrar-rank official from the Cooperation Department — who will provide guidance in areas such as accounting, deposit and loan management, meeting proceedings, audits, and legal compliance.

Minister Patil emphasized that this initiative, driven by directives from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, marks a crucial step in women’s empowerment. It will enable women who have received financial support under the scheme to move toward savings, investment, and self-employment through these credit societies. He expressed confidence that this measure would significantly benefit women in both rural and urban areas by strengthening their economic independence.