PRAGATHI CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD.

Our History

The first cooperative society in our country was registered in Kanaginahala, Gadag district, Karnataka, in 1905. Mr. S. S. Patil is considered to be the pioneer of the cooperative movement in our country. Then Madras government-administered Dakshina Kannada district, some like-minded friends came together with the good intentions of cooperation, under the guidance of the Kulshekar priest, Rev. Fr. Francis S. DSouza, and under the leadership of Mr. S. X. Monteiro, an organization called “Saint Joseph Savings and Loan Cooperative Society” was formed on 06-02-1929. This organization, which worked till about 1981 to make loans easily available to the poor and farmers and to provide relief to the financial difficulties of the common people, later became neutral. In 1991, the institution was revived under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Henry D'Souza, then Director of the Sandesh Kala Institute (now the Bishop of Bellary), Rev. Fr. Elias D'Souza, the Parish Priest of Kulshekar Church, and Mr. Joseph Sequeira, the retired Registrar of Societies. In 1991, Mr. P. M. Castellino and the board of directors led the organization under the name “Pragathi Sahakari Sangha”. The work of increasing membership, raising share capital, providing financial benefits according to the needs of the members was done. Later, under the leadership of the Honorable President and the board of directors mentioned below and with the cooperation of the members, progress was made.

Leadership History