History

Co-operative Societies play an important role in the Indian economy.  At present the Indian cooperative system is one of the largest co-operative movements in the world.   It has strongest pillars for the growth of agriculture, banking, housing and other allied sectors.  These societies create employment opportunities and increase the income of individuals and people. The Indian Coffee Workers’ Co-operative Society Limited, Jabalpur, (ICWCS Ltd., Jabalpur) is an ideal one for the success under the Co-operative movements. 

Origin & growth of ICH/Society in India

In the early 1940s, the Government of India (Under British Rule) was established the Coffee Board to promote coffee products and run India Coffee Houses for that purpose.  But at the end of 1957, the Govt. found all these Coffee Houses are run in loss, in a sudden decision, all these units were closed and retrenched its employees.

In response to the interference to the All India Coffee Board Labour Union, then Prime Minister Pt. Nehru, advised these retrenched workers to form Co-operative Societies and run Coffee Houses at the units closed areas.   Shri. A.K. Gopalan, then Union leader as well as first opposition leader of India, was extended all supports to them.  In this connection, 13 separate Co-operative Societies were formed in different cities of India

Jabalpur Society.

In this wave of formation of co-operative Societies countrywide, then Coffee Board Labour Union at Jabalpur, had given strong support to form co-operative Society in Jabalpur.  The President and Vice President of the said Union was Shri. L.N. Mehrotra and Shri. P. Sadasivan Nair and they were also respectively the founder President & Vice President of the Jabalpur Society.  This Society was named as   " Indian Coffee Workers' Co-operative Society Limited, Jabalpur “.

Origin: The Jabalpur Society was started its business in a very humbly in 1958 with a nominal Capital of   Rs. 1,365.00, 16 members with one branch of Indian Coffee House at Jabalpur.  The Society is registered under Madhya Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act 1960.

The Society was adopted certain special features, which is helped the Society to go smoothly.   Power is vested with the workers, in an organizational democracy. All the workers are shareholders and members and they have voting power.  Elected representatives from among the workers, consisting 13 Managing Committee members are ruling the Society for a terms of 5 years.

Turning point: In the first two decades, the economic condition was very poor.   A turning point in the progress of the Society is taken place after the new Managing Committee came into force under the leadership of Shri. O.K. Rajagopalan (Hony. Secretary), in the year 1981.  Since then he is leading the Society as administrative head and at present he is President as well as the    Sr. General Manager of the Society. 

As soon as he assumed office, he brought many reforms for the business development.  Lot of branches were opened in different parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, renovated existing units, recruited more and more workers & provided proper training, installed modern technology-machineries to lighten the workload of workers and created an attractive environment for the public to visit and enjoy food and beverages.

Branches: The Society have 164 branches of Indian Coffee Houses including Lodges and several Industrial Canteens, Guest Houses etc. were undertaken under different PSUs like NTPC, NMDC, NLCIL, State Govt. Power Plants of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, NCL, Singrauli, CIL, Kolkata etc.  and several Canteens under MP Police and Vidhan Sabha Canteens of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and providing satisfactory catering/hospitality services for the last several decades.

Affiliation:  The affiliation of the Society is with All India Coffee Workers’ Co-operative Societies’ Federation, New Delhi.  Shri. O.K. Rajagopalan, president and Shri. M. Prakasan, Hony. Secretary of this Society are the Chairman & Managing Director, respectively of the Federation.

This is an ISO 9001:2015 Certified Co-operative Society.   Besides this, the World Book of Records, London, UK, has honoured the Society.