What Works for Workers' Cooperatives? An Empirical Research on Success & Failure of Indian Workers' Cooperatives

The cooperative movement in India has its unique status, role and impact in the socio-economic development of the country for providing organizational, economic and social support to give impetus to income generating activities for weaker sections of the society such as self employed workers, farmers, artisans, weavers, spinners, landless labours, and fisherman etc. Cooperative movement in India is one of the largest cooperative movements in the world. 595,215 cooperative societies with strength of 249.248 million members are generating 1.22 million direct employments and 15.47 million self employments. Cooperative activities stand tall in the sphere of the Indian economy and are considered as third pillar of the economy along with public and private sector. Cooperative movement has been recognized as an effective instrument for the economic development of poor people and also as viable economic enterprise. Cooperative movement has made incredible progress in the Indian economy. This paper critically analyses selected 10 Workers Cooperatives across India engaged in different activities registered under different statutes. The paper compares organizations on various parameters.