The Department of Co-operation is an administrative department of the Government of Kerala, responsible for the development, regulation, and supervision of the co-operative sector in the state. The department oversees all registered co-operative societies, including co-operative banks, credit societies, marketing societies, and sector-specific cooperative institutions.
The department ensures implementation of cooperative policies, facilitates financial assistance, regulates registration of societies, and enforces the provisions of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969. It plays a significant role in rural development, agricultural credit, and the cooperative banking structure in Kerala.
Leadership The department is headed by a Cabinet Minister of the Government of Kerala, and the current Minister for Co-operation is M. Liju.
The administrative head of the department is the Special Secretary to Government (Co-operation), an IAS officer. The Secretary oversees policy formulation, administrative decisions, and coordination with field agencies.
The operational authority for co-operative administration and regulation lies with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, who is responsible for supervision of all registered cooperative societies in the state. The current Registrar of Co-operative Societies is Dr. D.Sajith Babu IAS.
Functional Structure
Registrar of Co-operative Societies (RCS) The Registrar of Co-operative Societies exercises statutory powers for: Registration and regulation of co-operative societies. Conduct of elections to society governing bodies. Audit and inspection of co-operative institutions. Supervision and enforcement under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 and Rules, 1969.
District-level cooperative administration is carried out by District Co-operative Officers, Joint Registrars, and Assistant Registrars.
Functions The major functions of the Department include: Registration, supervision, and inspection of co-operative societies. Promotion and development of co-operative institutions across various sectors (agriculture, dairy, banking, consumer, housing, etc.). Implementation of cooperative development policies and welfare schemes. Ensuring transparency and accountability in co-operative institutions. Financial support and credit facilitation through cooperative banks and apex agencies.
Subordinate Institutions
Directorates / Field Offices Office of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies (RCS) District Co-operative Offices (14 districts)
Apex and Allied Institutions
The organisations under the Co-operative Department are classified into: Apex co-operative institutions under the administrative control of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies Apex institutions under Functional Registrars (sector-specific co-operative institutions) Other Regional and State-wide co-operative institutions
Apex Institutions under the Administrative Control of Registrar of Co-operative Societies Kerala State Cooperative Bank (Kerala Bank) – Kerala State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank – Kerala State Cooperative Consumer Federation (Consumerfed) – Kerala State Cooperative Marketing Federation (Marketfed) – Kerala State Cooperative Rubber Marketing Federation (Rubbermark) – Kerala State Cooperative Housing Federation (Housefed) Kerala State Cooperative Hospital Federation (Hospitalfed) Kerala State SC/ST Development Federation (SC/ST Fed) – Kerala Women Cooperative Federation (Vanithafed) – Kerala State Cooperative Labour Cooperative Federation (Labourfed) Kerala State Cooperative Tourism Federation (Tourfed) –
Apex Institutions under Functional Registrars Kerala State Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society (Hantex)www.hantex.kerala.gov.in Kerala State Co-operative Coir Marketing Federation (Coirfed) – Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (MILMA) – Kerala State Cooperative Fish Marketing Federation (Matsyafed) – Kerala State Textile Co-operative Federation (Texfed) – Kerala State Cashew Workers Apex Industrial Cooperative Society (CAPEX) – Kerala Handicrafts Apex Co-operative Society (SURABHI) Kerala State Rural Women's Electronics Industrial Co-operative Federation (RUTRONIX) – Kerala Coconut Farmers Co-operative Federation (Kerafed) –
Regional and State-wide Co-operative Institutions Regional Agro Industrial Development Corporation (RAIDCO) – Kerala State Rubber Co-operative Ltd (RUBCO) – Kerala Dinesh Beedi Central Co-operative Society – Kerala State Co-operative Institute of Information Technology (COSTECH) – Kerala State Engineering & Transport Development Co-operative Society (KETCO) Artisans Development Corporation (ARTCO) Co-operative Insurance Society (COINS) – Kerala State Engineering and Infrastructure Service Co-operative Society (KEISCO) Kerala State Legal Metrology Licensees and Technicians Co-operative Society Kerala State Pravasi Welfare Development Co-operative Society (PRAVASIS Ltd) – Kerala State Pravasi Welfare and Development Co-operative Society – Kerala Tourism Development Co-operative Society
Regional and State-wide Institutions under Functional Registrars Thiruvananthapuram Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union (TRCMPU) – Ernakulam Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union (ERCMPU) – Malabar Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union (MRCMPU) – Kerala State Agro Co-operative Ltd (AGREENCO)
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