Historical Development of the Department of Cooperation in India with Special Reference to Mizoram

The dawn of cooperative movement in different countries took two broad forms. In countries like England, members of cooperatives themselves took initiatives in organising cooperative societies with more or less autonomy in their business and other activities. While countries like India and most of the third world nations witnessed cooperative movement under the initiative and guidance of the government through specific legislation or statutory recognition. This paper deals with the Department of Cooperation tracing its origin in India, coming to the state of Mizoram, featuring it as a Hills District under the state of Assam, then as Union Territory of Mizoram and statehood up to present day situation.