Membership

(a) Provided that nothing in this clause shall debar a student, who is a minor, from becoming a member of a Society formed for the benefit of the students of an Educational Institution, or a person who is not an individual, from becoming a nominal member: Provided further that not more than three individuals from the same family shall be admitted as members: Provided also that nothing in this clause shall debar the Co-operative Societies to admit Self-Help Groups as member; Explanation :– A Joint Member consisting of two individuals related to each other as husband and wife shall be deemed to be one individual for the purpose of this clause. (b) a Society other than a Primary Society, except the following, namely :– (i) any Society; (ii) the State Government; (iii) the Central Government; and (iv) any other person as may be prescribed; (v) a cooperative registered under the Orissa Self-Help Co-operatives Act, 2001. (1-a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provisions of this Act, and the Rules or Bye-laws framed thereunder, the members of the Committee including the co-opted members, if any, but excluding the members nominated or appointed under Clause (ii) of Sub-Section (1-b) of Section 28, Sub-Section (1) of Section 31 and Sub-Section (1) of Section 32, of the Primary Societies affiliated to the Central Society or an Apex Society, shall be deemed to be the members of their respective Central Society or, as the case may be, the Apex Society or both, with effect from the date of commencement of the Orissa Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 1997 so long as they continue as member of the Committees of Primary Societies. (1-b) (i) The members of the Primary Societies who were deemed to be the members of their respective Central Society or, as the case may be, the Apex Society or both, prior to the date of the commencement of the Orissa Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 1997, shall be deemed to have ceased to be members of such Societies with effect from the date of such commencement. (ii) Upon such cessation:– (d) the business in milk and milk products carried on by a person shall be deemed to be prejudicial to the business or interest of a Milk Co-operative Society; (e) the business in oil-seeds and oil-seed products carried on by a person shall be deemed to be prejudicial to the business or interest of an Oil-seed Growers' Co-operative Society; and (f) a family member of an individual shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to have common economic interest with such individual. (4) Any person continuing as a member of a Society in contravention of the provisions of this section shall cease to be such member with effect from the date of commencement of Section 12 of the Orissa Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 1991. (5) [x x x]