Co-operatives, as institutions of the people, can thus be effectively used by the state to improve the economic conditions of the people. They can be used to undertake programmes which target a large number of people including a combination of women, men, children, young and old as well as of farmers, consumers and industrial workers. Good health means good level of education, more active life for the industrial worker, a better work environment for women and raised consciousness on safety and security. Co-operatives can also provide services for the care of the aged. The education of women is a particularly strategic investment in human resources, carrying very high social returns.
Educated mothers have lower infant and child mortality rates and are aware of birth control methods.
They educate their children better and marry later. Such programmes also help reverse the trend from the village to the town. Co-operatives could become the focal points for the dissemination of information to the community. By networking with parallel institutions, centralised institutions and members and providing a better access to market information, co-operatives can provide greater business opportunities to their members. Co-operative institutions are a vital component of civil society with strong ties to local communities They form a particularly important vehicle for the development of the marginalised sections of the society.