According to Talmaki It is an association of the weak who gather together for a common economic need and try to lift themselves from weakness into strength through business organisation.

Non-agricultural non-credit societies are formed in order to assist the middle and lower income groups of people. Their main aim is for rendering different types of service to their members at nominal rates of interest.
The different types are:
(i) Consumer's co-operatives,
(ii) Manufacturer's co-operatives,
(iii) Housing co-operatives and
(iv) Co-operative warehouses.

In the fields such as credit, farming, marketing, processing, housing, transport, insurance, fisheries, poultry, dairying, etc., co-operative societies exist.

(i) Indian Coffee House
(ii) Mother Diary
(iii) Indian Farmers Fertilizers Co-operative Limited.
(iv) The Indian Airlines (Cargo) C.G.H.S. Ltd.

(i) Co-operative societies are managed on democratic lines.
(ii) Every member has only one vote irrespective of the number of shares held by him.
(iii) This principle is followed in Co-operative Societies.
(iv) This is known as one man-one vote.

The cooperative movement was started by Robert Owen, in the year 1844. He formed a consumer's cooperative society in England with 28 workers as members, called "Rochadale Society of Equitable Pioneers".

Cooperative credit societies are societies formed for providing short-term financial help to their members. Agriculturists, artisans, industrial workers, salaried employees, etc., form these credit societies.

A cooperative is a form of business organisation that is owned and controlled by the people who use its products, supplies or services. Although cooperatives vary in type and membership size, all were formed to meet the specific objectives of members, and are structured to adapt to member's changing needs.

The features of co-operative societies are:
Voluntary Membership:
Any person can become the member of the society and can leave it any time.
Equal Rights:
Each member of the society has an equal right to vote and ownership. Each shareholder has one vote.
Democracy:
The principle of democracy is adopted while making the decisions. The decision of the majority is honored.
Honesty:
It is the basic principle of this society. Its members should be honest. Selfish people can not.run the business of cooperative society.
Mutual Confidence:
The foundation of Cooperative society is laid on mutual confidence. Members of the society should trust each other and work like a team.
Welfare Main Objective:
Its main objective is to provide goods and services to its members at lower price.
Cash Payment:
Credit team is prohibited and goods are supplied to its members on cash payment.
Economy:
The member of the society should act upon the principle of economy. They should not misuse capital of the society and always keep in view best interest of the society.
Distribution of Profit:
The profit can be distributed among the members according the cooperative act. One fourth (1/4)of the profit can be kept in reserve. Then (10%) of the profit can be used for providing facilities to the members.
Self Service:
All the business activities are conducted by the members themselves. All are the owner and all are the consumers. So self service rule is employed in the organisation.

1. Warehouse is a place where goods are stored for future use whereas; warehousing is an arrangement of goods.
2. Warehouse is to hold goods for storing purpose only. Warehousing object is to preserve and protect the goods from deterioration.

Industrial cooperatives are formed by industrialists. They can decide to work together to increase marketing possibilities. This helps to protect themselves and solve their problems. Examples : Matchbox factories, chemical industries and crackers industries.

(i) These co-operative housing societies are meant to provide residential accommodation to their members on ownership basis or on rent.
(ii) People who intend to build houses of their own join together and form housing societies.

Benefit to rural rich:
Co-operatives, have benefited the rural rich and not the rural poor.
Inadequate rural credit:
Co-operative societies give loans only for productive purposes and not for personal or family expenses.
Lack of managerial skills:
Co-operative societies are managed by the managing committee elected by its members. The members of the managing committee may not have the required qualification, skill or experience.

Consumers Cooperative:
Consumer cooperatives are organized by consumers that want to achieve better prices or quality in the goods or services they purchase.
Producers Cooperative:
Producer cooperatives are established and operated by producers. Producers can decide to work together or as separate entities to help increase marketing possibilities and production efficiency.
Marketing Cooperative:
Cooperative marketing societies are associations of small producers formed for the purpose of marketing their produce.
Credit Cooperative:
Cooperative credit societies are societies formed for providing short-term financial help to their members.
Housing Cooperative:
These cooperative housing societies are meant to provide residential accommodation to their members on ownership basis or on rent.
Cooperative Farming Societies:
When various farmers in a village pool their land together and agree to; treat the pooled piece of land as one big farm for the purpose of cultivation, purchase the necessary inputs for the cultivation, and market the crops jointly, they are assumed to have formed a cooperative farming society. Such a society, for its proper working elects its office bearers on the basis of one member-one-vote.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership:
Co-operatives are voluntary organizations, open to all people able to use its services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
2. Democratic Member Control:
Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members-those who buy the goods or use the services of the co-operative-who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.
3. Member's Economic Participation:
Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of the co-operative. This benefits member in proportion to the business they conduct with the co-operative rather than on the capital invested.
4. Autonomy and Independence:
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If the co-operative organisation enters into agreements with other organizations or raises capital from external sources, it is done so based on terms that ensure democratic control by the members and maintains the cooperative's autonomy.
5. Education, Training, and Information:
Co-operatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operative. Members also inform the general public about the nature and benefits of co-operatives.