Abstract
In India, co-operative movement was introduced by passing a separate legislation known as co-operative credit societies Act of 1904. It permitted the formation of credit society and not the non-credit societies and central societies. These major deficiencies in this Act were rectified by passing another legislation known as co-operative societies Act of 1912. This Act of 1912 permitted the formation of credit as well as non-credit societies and local Governments were entrusted with the task of administrating the Act. The importance of sericulture was recognized even in the pre-independence period and steps were taken to check the declining trend in silk industry in 1914 by constituting a two-man committee with Mr. H.MaxwellLefroy and Mr. E.C.Ansorge to study the problems of the silk industry and suggest the steps to be taken for revival. The Committee traced the declining trend of Indian silk industry primarily with a view for the reason of the lack of organization, in proved technology and capital. According to the report, the silk industry was largely in the hands of the dealers whose interest appeared only to 'get rich quick' at the cost of the poor craftsman, quality of the end product and the production itself. Leroy observed that "The worker, ground down continuously by pressure of circumstances and want of capital through generations of struggle had never enjoyed proper understanding with the dealer and both do not see eye to eye on the interests of the industry as a whole".
Keywords: Co-operative movement, Sericulture
References
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4. Census of India – 1961, Vol.XV, Handlooms in Madras State, Delhi Manager of Publication, 1963, P. 8.