INTRODUCTION
In the eighth edition of Sahakarita, we highlight a key building block of cooperatives: democratic participation. Cooperatives are democratically-run enterprises where the workers are owners(shareholders), managers, and decision-makers, ensuring collective decision-making over every aspect of the collective’s functioning. This model enables women to take ownership of their trade ,and participate fully in the mainstream economy.
Ensuring true democracy requires sound governance laws, formalised organisational models,and robust management practices. These processes can offer women recognition, representation, and voice. To achieve this,women workers’ capacities need to be built to participate in and leverage these processes. A major challenge in maintaining a democratic structure within cooperatives is the selection of board representatives across diverse geographies and communities.
