BRIEF HISTORY OF COOPERATION DEPARTMENT
Mizoram was one of the Administrative Districts of Assam till it attained its Centrally Administered Union Territory on 21st of January 1972. During erstwhile Mizo District of Assam the first registered Cooperative Society came into existence on 11.11.1949 under the name of “Aijal Central Trading Cooperative Society” bearing a registration No.760/49.In 1951 the Assam Government established a Cooperative Sub-Divisional Office at Aizawl manned by Sub-Divisional Deputy Cooperative Officer which is better known as Senior Inspector today. Then the Sub-isional Office was upgraded to a District Office on 3.1.1956 manned by the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

With the new Centrally Administered Union Territory came into being Directorate of Cooperation Department was established along with other government Departments in 1972. The post of Registrar of Cooperative Societies was first occupied by one of the Deputy Secretaries of the Union Territory Government in an Ex-Officio capacity in addition to his normal work in the Secretariat from 13th of December, 1972 to 17th of November, 1976.The Government had created a full fledged post of Registrar of Cooperative Societies in December 1976 and appointed Senior Officer from amongst the Provincial Civil Service personnel which has been changed to the Cadre post of I.A.S. since 1987.In addition to the single District Office two more districts were created and opened at Lunglei and the undivided Chhimtuipui District in 1975 and 1979 respectively. Another 3(three) district Offices were opened at Champhai, Kolasib and Aizawl East in 1989.At present there are 1600 registered Cooperative Societies at Primary Level and 10 Nos. of State Level Cooperative Federation.

(a) Registrar, Cooperative Societies is the head of the Department of Cooperation in the State. As per provision of section 3 (1) the Mizoram Cooperative Societies Act, 1991 the State Government of Mizoram appoints a Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Mizoram for the registration, supervision, assistance, counsel and control of registered societies and for the development of the Cooperative Movement and control over all Cooperative Education. The Registrar, Cooperative Societies is vested with such other powers and responsibilities as are provided under this Act or Rules or Bye-Laws framed thereunder. He is assisted by the Joint Registrar, the Deputy Registrars, the Assistant Registrars and the Inspectors working under him at the Headquarter Office and at the District Offices.

(b) There are 6(six) Nos. of District Offices headed by the Assistant Registrars, Cooperative Societies as per provision of Section No.3(2) of the Mizoram Cooperative Societies Act, 1991. The District Officers are assisted by the Senior/Junior Inspectors as a Field Level Workers who are assigned works such as Enquiry, Inspections, Annual Statutory Audit of Coop. Societies and also to enquire into the economic feasibilities of all the proposed Cooperative Societies. They are also assigned liquidation works under their respective jurisdiction.

(c)Different types of Cooperative Societies are functioning under the overall control and supervision of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

Powers and duties of Officers and Employees:
(1) The R.C.S. : The post is manned by an IAS Officer. He is the head of the Department and delegated financial power under Rule 3 (f) of DFPR 1978. He appoints/promotes all Inspecting Staff, UDC, LDC and Drivers and all Group ‘D’ Staff. Transfer and posting of all Inspecting Staff, UDC, LDC and Drivers and Group ‘D’ and granting of leave and sanction of Pension of all Non-Gazetted Officials under the Directorate are within his purview. Registration of different kinds of State Level/District Level and Primary Level Societies. Supervision and assistance, counsel and control of all kinds of registered societies and for the development of the Cooperative Movement and control overall Cooperative Education and with such other powers and responsibilities as provided under this Act or Rules or Bye Laws framed thereunder.

(2) The J.R.C.S. : The post of Joint Registrar, Coop. Societies is manned by the Senior most Departmental Officer. He assists the Registrar in the day to day works by giving advice whenever necessary. Whenever the Registrar is on leave or he is out of station he takes the charge of Registrar. He is supported by the Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies and the Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies as powers delegated to them by the State as provided under Section No.3(2) of the Mizoram Cooperative Societies Act, 1991. There is one (1) post of JRCS in the Department.

(3) The DRCSs : There are four (4) posts of Deputy Registrar in the Department. Their main task is to assist Registrar and Joint Registrar. The Deputy Registrars are assigned various kinds of duties such as Office Administration, the task of DDO, Planning, also Registration, Audit and Arbitration of all kinds of Cooperative Societies.

(4) The ARCSs : There are eleven (11) posts of Assistant Registrar in the Department including one Chief Audit Officer. Six (6) of them function as Head of Office in the Aizawl East and West, Lunglei, Saiha, Champhai, Kolosib Districts. The remaining five (5) Assistant Registrar including C.A.O. are in the Directorate Office. Their main duties are to assist Registrar, Joint Registrar, and Deputy Registrar as a subordinate Officer in discharging all duties, responsibilities assigned to them for the speedy development of Cooperative Movement in the State.

(5) Sr./Jr.Inspectors: There are 18 SICS and 32 JICS posts in the Department. They are Field Officers mostly attached to different District Offices. They assist the District Officers as Field Level workers who are assigned works such as inspection, annual statutory audit of Coop. Societies and also enquire into the economic feasibilities of all the proposed Coop. Societies for registration. They are also assigned liquidation works under their respective jurisdiction.

(6) Office Superintendent: He is the head of the Ministerial Staff in the Office of the Registrar, Cooperative Societies and his main duties are supervisory in nature, such as enforcing punctuality, discipline in general functioning of the entire Directorate. There is 1(one) post of Superintendent in the Directorate.

(7) Head Assistants : There are 4(four) posts of Head Assistant in the offices of ARCS, Aizawl East/ Aizawl West/ Lunglei/Saiha District. He is the head of Ministerial Staff in the District Office. The duties and responsibilities are similar to those of Superintendent of the Directorate.

(8) Assistants/Upper/ : There are 10 Assistant/Accountant, 19 Lower Divisional UDC, 22 LDC posts under the Department. Clerks They are clerical staffs dealing with the Works and Files allotted to them under the close-supervision of the Office Superintendent or Head Assistant as the case may be in their respective Offices.

(9) Junior Engineer:There is 1(one) post of J.E. in the Directorate to prepare Plan and Estimates of Departmental Buildings and repair works of the building, and supervises the departmental works.

(10) Drivers :There are 15 posts of Drivers to man departmental vehicles attached to Officers.

(11) Handyman : There are 2(two) posts of Handyman. Their main duties are to assist Drivers, however, since the department have only light vehicles their services utilized as Peon in the Office in addition to their normal duties.

(12)Duftry : There are 3(three) posts of Duftry. They look after the Duplicating Machine in the Office. Presently the post is declared as a withering post.

(13) Process Server : There are 7(seven) posts of Process Server. They assist Inspecting Staff works in the liquidation/arbitration of the Cooperative Societies in various Towns and Villages. The post is a withering post.

(14) Peon : There are 43 sanctioned posts of Peon to assist Officers and Staffs by putting up files etc. in the Office.

(15) Chowkidar : There are 5(five) posts of Chowkidar to guard Office Building in the night time.

(16) Sweeper : There are 5(five) posts of Sweeper to clean Office Building and its premises.

The procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability :
All matters requiring decisions are initiated by the dealing assistant and put up to Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies through Superintendent or ARCS as the case may be. The Deputy Registrar, after thorough examination of the subject, consulting all relevant Rules and Regulations, procedures, Acts, Rules and Bye Laws put up the matters with comments or suggestions to Registrar, Cooperative Societies through Joint Registrar, Cooperative Societies.

The norms set by it for discharge of its functions :
Apart from what have been stated at Paragraph 3 above, the Department has no set norms except that the Department has to function within the audit of the Mizoram Coop. Societies Act, 1991 and Rules 1996 and Bye Laws of registered Cooperative Societies.

The Rules, Regulations, Instructions, Manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions :
As adopted by Govt. of Mizoram, the Central Rules such as FR SR Part 1,CCS (Leave) Rules, T.A. Rules, CCS (Pension) Rules, CCS (CCA) Rules, CCS (Conduct) Rules, GPF Rules, GFR, DFPR, HBA Rules, Medical Attendance Rules etc. CTR, Service/Recruitment Rules of Employees. Staff Car Rules, Manual on Office Procedures, Seniority & Promotion etc. are used by this department for discharging its functions. Apart from these Rules, the Department has to follow and comply with the Mizoram Coop. Societies Act, Rules and Bye Laws of registered Cooperative Societies.

A statement of categories of documents that are held by it or under its control :
Apart from the general documents that are held by departments under Govt.
of Mizoram the Cooperation Department has been maintaining the following documents-
1. Legal proceedings of Arbitration Court.
2. Statistical Records.
3. Audit Reports of Coop. Societies.
4. Registration/Organization papers of Cooperative Societies.
5. Inspection & Inquiry reports of Coop. Societies.
6. Liquidation papers of dissolved Cooperative Societies.
7. Loan & G.I.A. Register (State Govt.)
8. Loan & G.I.A. under Central Assistance.
9. Cooperative Acts and Rules, Bye Laws of different types of Cooperative Societies.
10. Appointment/Promotion/Transfer/Leave Order of Employees.
11. Service Books of Employees.
12. ACR of Group ‘B’ & ‘C’ Staff.
13. Cash Book, Bill Register, Contingencies Bill Register, Vouchers, A/Roll of employees.
14. Stock Register, Motor Vehicle Log Book.
15. Departmental Land Lease, LSC of Officials when HBA/LIC is granted.
16. Maintained record room.