What's there in d name ! Mayurbhanj Coop experiment

Efforts in the Mayurbhanj Cooperative experiment have started yielding results. Results not just at the physical and financial level but to the larger objective of creating true ownership of poor over their business.

Existing 'promoters' board of Disha Cooperative didn't allow the villagers board to take over, therefore with community decision a new federation 'Marshal Cooperative' is legally set in with democratically elected 11 member board. All 15 functional village level cooperatives have joined in the Marshal Cooperative. So here on experiment of Mayurbhanj will be recognized as "Marshal Cooperative" .(Surprised at hearing an English word given by village members, wait....its a Santhali word meaning 'Ojaswi' (enlightened).

First patronage distribution (profit over and above market price) was given over to the villagers in Gaipani Village. This was on the 10% amount sold at village level, 90% is scheduled to go to Godown for much higher returns to primary collectors. Though this amount of patronage share was not very high, but symbolically its very important as it marks the first strike on the existing market mechanisms which feels that poor cannot do business and claim their share in the value chain. I felt so happy, moments of "Manthan" and"Mamuliram" movies showed during induction at IRMA came out vividly!

Forest department has consented the efforts with the Marshal Cooperative, have asked us to prepare a detailed report for production unit, they'll try to support machineries to the tune of 5 Lakh. On other front one member has contributed his 2 acre non cultivable land at token fees for the production unit cum  "Hut Office". The place is very serene surrounded on two sides by forest, perhaps very much suitable for an Ashram if  Mohandas Gandhi was alive today.

Expansion to new villages will begin towards month end. I thank one and all specially my Professors at IRMA who have come forward, believed in the experiment when Institutional support was withdrawn.  Perhaps God wanted it to be a truly people's initiative.  Wish to facilitate creation of a 'mini Anand' in Mayurbhanj !