Housing co-operatives in Kerala - an exploratory study

Abstract

Co-operatives in Kerala are well developed and highly democratic in nature. In addition to traditional Credit sector, Co-operatives are also performing better in the fields o f Healthcare, Education, Housing, Labour Contract, Fisheries and Milk, Coir and Consumer. /Is on 31" Manh 2013, Id205 Co-operative societies o f varied nature were in operation, o f which 382 were housing Co-operatives. The paper intend to highlight the status o f housing Co-operatives in Kerala and to bring out the sustainable issues related to housing Co-operatives in Kerala. Kerala Co-operative Societies Act. 1969 and Rules 1969 have provisions to register four types of housing Co-operatives Viz.. Co-operative Building Society, Co-operative House Building Society, Co-operative Howe Construction Society and Tenancy Housing Society. The findings based on the analysis and a case study given in the paper clearly indicates the changing paradigm of homing Co-operatives in Kerala Most o f the Co-operative credit institutions lends to house construction, purchase and expansion. Privileges extended in the form o f Gehan registration helps a lot to brin^ down the cost o f documentation. Compared to the competitive strength of real estate tycoons. Co-operatives failed to capture and stand in the mat her. If the Cooperatives want to thrive, it should extend value added services such as telephone, electricity, tenter, wastage management, repair and maintenance, security, healthcare on a sustainable haw If Co-operatives are not in a position to construct flats, at least they can intrude in the common services that could be rendered.