ROLE OF MAHARASHTRA STATE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD. IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT WITH REFERENCE TO KONKAN REGION IN MAHARASHTRA

Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of the people
living in rural areas often relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas. Education, Entrepreneurship,
Physical Infrastructure, Social Infrastructure, Technology and Innovation all play an important role in the
development process. Rural development is necessary, not only for overwhelming majority of population
living in villages, but also the development of rural activities essential to accelerate the pace of overall
economic development of the country.
Co-operation is a worldwide phenomenon. It occupies an important place in the Indian economy. No other
country in the world has the co-operative movement as large and as diverse as it is in India. There is almost
no sector left untouched by the co-operative movement. In India Co-operative movement in its modern form
started in the year 1904. The movement has been acknowledged as an instrument towards achieving the
socio-economic transformation of Indian society with special focus on the life of people living in rural
areas.