Shimla: It’s been over a year, yet the state government has not nominated members to the Board of Directors (BoD) of HIMFED, the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Marketing and Consumer Federation.

 This delay has left thousands of farmers in limbo, unable to get timely fertilizers and essential supplies due to the federation’s stalled operations.

This negligence came to light in the Himachal Pradesh High Court recently. Petitioners elected to the BoD in July 2023 had approached the court, citing the government’s failure to complete the board composition.

Counsel for the petitioners, Kameshwar Dhaulta, highlighted that the government is required to nominate three members to the board.

But more than a year after their election, the BoD remains incomplete, blocking critical decisions and paralyzing HIMFED's functions.

According to the state’s reply submitted in court, the matter of nominating members to HIMFED’s board is "under active consideration."

Yet, the state government claims the Chief Minister’s approval is pending for the nominations, an excuse that has only delayed matters further.

The cooperative society act requires the managing committee to include nominees beyond the elected members, crucial for transparent and effective governance.

The delay is not just procedural – it’s costing farmers dearly. HIMFED, which manages a significant portion of fertilizers and agricultural supplies for the state, has been running in "low gear," severely hampering supply chains.

Section 34 of the HP Cooperative Societies Act mandates timely board constitution, but the government's inaction, despite a financial stake of ₹582.3 lakhs, is a direct blow to the cooperative movement that HIMFED was meant to support.

The petitioners have urged the court to direct the state to immediately convene a BoD meeting to elect the chairman and vice-chairman.

Despite elections being held on July 23, 2023, for 12 zones across the state, the BoD remains incomplete, awaiting the Chief Minister’s nod for government nominees. 

HIMFED, a key state federation tasked with fertilizer procurement and distribution, along with various other agricultural and commercial activities like culled fruit procurement, running petrol pumps, and selling farm machinery, has been limping without an effective leadership structure.

This vacuum is not only hampering day-to-day operations but also delaying critical business and policy decisions.

The government, in its reply to a petition filed by the elected BoD members in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, stated that the nominations are "under consideration."

It argued that approval from the Hon’ble Chief Minister is awaited before the nominees can be finalized, as mandated under Section 34 of the HP Cooperative Societies Act. However, this excuse has failed to justify the prolonged inaction that has crippled HIMFED.

Petitioners have pointed out that this delay violates the act, which mandates timely nomination of government representatives to ensure the smooth functioning of cooperative societies.

Without the BoD, HIMFED cannot elect its president and vice-president, leaving the federation’s decision-making in limbo.

The federation’s inability to operate effectively has had dire consequences for farmers, who rely on it for fertilizers and essential inputs.

HIMFED’s other ventures, including procurement of culled fruits and sale of agricultural implements, are also suffering significant setbacks. 

This prolonged vacuum has raised serious questions about the government’s priorities.

HIMFED plays a critical role in supporting the state’s farmers and agricultural sector, but its stagnation reflects poorly on the administration’s commitment to cooperative governance.

The High Court's intervention might now be the only hope to resolve this bureaucratic deadlock and revive HIMFED’s functioning.