115-Year-Old Vadodara Society Empowers Thousands

Vadodara, Gujarat — The government employees’ cooperative society, which has been running in Vadodara for the last 115 years, has realized the vision of prosperity through cooperation. Established with the inspiration of the then Maharaja of Vadodara, Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad, this cooperative society has not only fulfilled the dream of many government employees working in Vadodara to have a house, but has also provided financial assistance in times of financial hardship.

In the year 1910, the ruler of Baroda state, Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad, inspired his employees and officers to do cooperative activities. On the initiative of Shri Anant Narayan Datar, a top official of the Baroda state at that time, Shri Purushottam Nathalal Desai, another civil official was appointed as the president of The Baroda Government Servant Urban Cooperative Credit Society Limited on 17-12-1910.

13 civil servants of Baroda state joined the society at the time of its establishment, and later the number of members increased to 66. Thus, the oldest credit cooperative society of the state was functional. After the country got independence, when Baroda was included in the Mumbai state, the name of this cooperative society came to be known as The Government Servant Cooperative Credit Society Limited Vadodara. Initially, employees of revenue, construction, and district panchayat joined the society.

Later, observing this cooperative activity, employees from government, semi-government, university, municipal corporation, telephone, Akashvani, and other departments of Vadodara district also started joining. Initially, this organization was run in a rented house in Shastri Pol of the city. After that, the organization purchased land in the colony for Rs. 9,000, and on 20-10-1957, it was inaugurated by the former Minister of Baroda State, Shri Chhotalal Sutaria and the first member of the organization, Shri Shankar Balwant Didmise. Later, a modern office was built over time.

Pratap Rao S. Bhoite, who has been serving as the president continuously since 1992, says this cooperative society used to lend up to Rs. 2,500 to its members until 1975. Later, until 1995, keeping in mind the government salary standards, loans up to Rs. 15,000 were given. With the increase in economic viability due to the sound administration of cooperative activities, the loan limit was gradually increased, and currently, loans up to Rs. 20 lakh are being given. This society is the first in the entire state in terms of maximum loans and deposits. It has been getting an A class in audit since 1981.

Since loans of up to Rs. 20 lakhs are being given to members and officials from government departments, the dream of many families has come true. The marriages in many members’  members have been completed successfully. In addition, health assistance, annual gifts, dividends, and educational assistance are provided. Today, 11,347 people are associated with these cooperative activities. The organization made a profit of Rs. 186 lakhs last year.

The state government is celebrating Cooperative Week from the 1st of July. This is when this organization of Vadodara truly embodies the mantra of prosperity through cooperation.