9496717665It was on 6th of January 1979, this Class I Special Grade Employees Co-operative Society, one of Keralas major society of this kind, started functioning. The society was registered as early as on 15th December 1978. It was all started within the boundary of Meenachil Taluk and with 41 members and Rs.3120 as share capital. The starting share capital for the Society to be registered was accumulated mainly by respected Sri. M.N.Gopalakrishna Panicker, Sri K.V.Thomas and Sri. Gopinathan Nair ( M.R.M & P.C.S ). The Society is registered with Sri. Paul Joseph (Pala Marketing Co-operative Society) as the Chief Promoter and he himself was the first President of the Society. Sri M.N.Gopalakrishna Panicker(M.R.M & P.C.S) was the first secretary. Afterwards, from 02-07-1981, the second governing Board with Sri. P.C.Chacko (Meenachil Co-cop. Agricultural Development Bank) as the President and Mr. Gopalakrishna Panicker as Secretary and from 01-07-1984, the third Governing Body with Mr.M.N.Gopalakrishna Panicker as President and Sri. K. Govinda Kaimal( Edanad SCB) as Secretary had led the society in those crucial and the most difficult time. In this period the loans taken from the District bank became arrears and the District Bank has stopped all the loans given to the Society. But as a helping hand, our Society member Mr.M.K.Ramakrishna Pilla(Meenachil,SCB) had showed faith to the society which has only Rs.2700/- as deposit by depositing Rs.25,000 for 3 years on 25-06-1986 . By this amount The Society was able to repay the amount to the district Bank and we were able to get further loans and were able to continue without an abrupt stop. The co-workers of main founding member of the Society, Mr.M.N.Gopalakrishna Panicker, Mr.P.T.George(Pala Marketing Co-operative Society), Mr.V.J.Mathew(Pala Milk Supplies Co-Operative Society), Mr.M.M.Muhammed Ismail Khan (Erattupetta SCB) and Messieurs K.J.Joseph, Joy John,P.J.Joseph(MRM & PCS) must be remembered with respect and this type of services given to the Society at the beginning stages of the society were any way invaluable. The very existence of the Society was even challenging in those childhood period. It was in14-5-1987, the first paid staff (Mr.M.R.Sabu Rajan) was appointed as Junior clerk and the society started functioning permanently in a rented building owned by Palm Owners Society near to Pala Market. Savings Bank account and chit were started for the first time in the year 1987-88. Till this period, the members of the society were paid from the loan taken from the District Bank.
From 14-02-1989, the society was governed by the Board members with Mr.George Joseph( Melukavu SCB) as President and Mr.K.V.Thomas (M.R.M & P.C.S) as Secretary.It was on this period (16-08-1989) that the society has shifted to its new site opposite to Kurusupally, Pala Town, and continuing still at the same spot. This was a major milestone in the societys all round development. This director board was in the view of appointing a paid secretary for the society as it was found very essential for the growth and prosperity of the society and hence forth Mr. Sabu Rajan was promoted and appointed as the paid secretary on 01-04-1990. Afterwards on 02-07-1990, Mrs.Jessy George was appointed as the second staff. This Period the Society started paying loans to its members from its own funds together with the loans from the District Bank. This really was the result of the continuous functional growth and increase in the deposits of the society. The transparent and most impressive way of the societys functioning under the leadership of Mr.George Joseph and the collective hard work and co-operation of the board and the staff together made the beginning of the super fast progress of the society.
The society was equipped with a convenient Office, Counters and a Strong Room during the tenure of the governing board (12-11-1992) with Mr.Charles Antony (Poonjar SCB) as President. The Gold Loan Scheme, Recurring Deposit Scheme, Safe Deposit Locker etc. also started functional during this time. The new office and its facilities were inaugurated on 28-12-1994, by honorable Prof.K.M.Chandy, the Ex. Governor. On 19-12-1994 two more staff (Mr.G.Bijukumar and Mr.Dias Thomas) were appointed to cope with the increased volume of business and activities of the Society. Around this time the society successfully collected sufficient funds through various Deposit Schemes and started giving loans to its members, as and when they needed and completely stopped taking loans from District Bank.
On 07-06-1992, K.Mohanan (Mutholy SCB), has taken the charge of President as Mr.Charles Antony has quitted the post. And two more employees (Mr.P.T.Jose and Mr.K.B.Sabu) were appointed to cope with the smooth functioning of the day-to-day activities of the Society.
A wide range of functional areas are found during the tenure of the Governing board with Mr.K.M.Thomas (Thalappalam SCB) as President and various steps required to promote the growth of the society were taken through better activities and by increasing the Deposits and loan Credit Limit. During this period the society has made the maximum working profit and has given the members the maximum divident. The society was computerized (1997)during this tenure and it was yet another mile stone for the Society. Also started the sale of computer Stationary around this time.
It was as a result of the radiant activities and the joint functioning of the Governing body with Mr.K.M.Thomas as President which had taken charge on 29-10-1998 ,the customers and the employees, our society was developed in to a Class I Society from Class II from April 1, 1999 and again to Class I Special Grade by January 1, 2002. The Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the society was inaugurated by Honorable Revenue Minister Sri. K.M.Mani on 12-02-2003.
The Governing Board with Mr.K.M.Thomas as President was taken the charge of the Society for a third time on 26-10-2003. During this period (21-10-2004) the society had bought 4.5 Cents land and a double storied building at the heart of Pala at Kurusupally Junction which stands as an inerasable milestone of our Societys constant progress and growth. Due to the Speedy growth and increased work load, the two more employees (Mr.P.D.Saneesh and Mr.Sunil Thomas) were appointed on 19-09-2004.The society has increased its working times from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm from 01-01-2005 to facilitate society transactions to its members and clients more comfortably. The business of the Society had increased to great extent due to this. The Valedictory meeting of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations was inaugurated by Honorable Minister of Co-operation Sri. M.V.Raghavan on 19.03.2005. The Award for the best Co-operative Employee in Meenachil Taluk (Silver jubilee Memorial Award )was given to the Founder Secretary and Former President Mr.M.N.Gopalakrishna Panikker in this Meeting by honorable Minister. For the benefit of the members who has taken loans from the society, in the name of Diseased Members Benefit Fund, Welfare Fund was started in the year 2005. If the member dies, an amount of Rs.25000/- was initially made available from the Benefit fund to repay the loan amount and this amount is raised to Rs.75000/-at present. Our society became the first fully computerized Co-operative society in the entire Kottayam District which works completely on line in this period. In 2006, new loan schemes were introduced, and loans were given more liberally. As a result, the distribution of the loans has jumped manyfolds. As it was required essentially for running the day-to-day activities of the society, one more employee(Mr.Eby Zacharias) in Firsrt December 2006 and two more employees(Mr.P.V.Benoy and Mr.Yedukrishnan.R) in September 2007 were respectively appointed.
The two storied building owned by the society is modernized and well structured A/C auditirium with all the facilities at the first floor and roofing for the second floor also were completed in 2007. The modernized building was inaugurated by respected MLA Sri. Thomas Chazhikadan and the A/C Auditorium was inaugurated by respected MLA Sri. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on 22-09-2007. A Fare well Function also was introduced to the Farewell for Mr.K.M.Thomas, who was president for our society for 12 years, was also inaugurated in the same meeting by Mr.P.C.George MLA.
After the retirement of Mr.K.M.Thomas from the service and as President of the Society, then Vice President Mr.Charles Antony has taken over as the President. In 2007-2008, our Society has adjudged the best Employees Co-operative Society and got the prestigious Sahakarana Mahatva Poorna Award. The award was received by the President and Secretary from chairperson of womens Commission Justice D.Sreedevi on 25-09-2008. Yet another mile stone for this period for the society was the starting of a new branch at Erattupetta on 02-06-2008. This branch was really a blessing for the members particularly in the eastern regions of the Taluk and is thus a step towards the future growth of the society.
On 26-10-2008, a new Governing Board with Mr.Charles Antony as President took the reins of the society again. A new benefit fund for the A-class members of the society-who are employees of Service co-operative banks / Societiesby name Members Treatment Benefit Fund was started on January 2009. In accordance with this new fund, a member can avail up to Rs.25000/- for treatment purpose and this was introduced for the first time in Kerala in Co-operative sector by our Society.
It is with great pride we announce that we are continuously receiving the award for the best Employees Co-operative Society from 1997-98 which was by Meenachil Circle Co-operative Union. For the last 25 years, our Society is running profitably and giving its members maximum divident which proves itself that our Society is placed at the top in Co-operative Sector of Kerala.
