Our ‘student managed’ co-operative mess is finding it difficult to survive. Some reasons that I can think of would be : high no of default payments, minimal or no penalty to defaulters, absence of a common sentiment regarding the utility of the mess, absence of members willing to take responsibility so as to ease the burden on the student office bearers, absence of incentive for the student office bearers… Our lack of experience in collective action… absence of mess rules, or their implementation.
The list is long.
Can we think of a solution?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Failing Co-operative
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9 comments:
Effective running of the mess can be achieved when the members think about the greater common good rather than their own self-interests. The necessary structure is already in place. What needs to be done is the effective and efficient implementation of the framed rules which will inculcate discipline among the participants.
Already talk is on about removal of the different rules regarding discipline in mess, tv room, and the lawns, as we are finding it difficult to follow the norms regarding the queues, taking turns, etc - all rules set by the past batches and being followed since ages.. When we cant even follow a simple rule of who takes a roti first, then talking about 'managing' the mess efficiently is simply a case of big aspirations, with nothing to back it up with!
rajat, 30029
We have common interest to back us... By rules I meant fucntional rules, just for the proper functioning of the mess strictly, not the peripheral norms like not taking the books inside the mess etc. we could as well choose to get rid of them collectively.
I feel that a probable solution will be very similar to what we have already learnt in CAC lectures. I think that the mess co-op could be revived if each and every owner of the mess co-op feel a sense of belongingness and responsibility towards it. People should realize that it is their own mess and efficient and proper functioning will benefit everybody! In other words, it will be a win- win situation.
the mess is a cooperative by no means and should not be reffered to as one..even if we have a contractor to run it, the bills would be lower and quality better.. Now the situation is a sort of a monopoly when one cant say anything to the workers and students representatives cant do anything to bring about changes...
Many thanks to my friend for raising an issue which could help us to testify ours skills in generating responses for a collective action. However, I think this particular problem needs to be addressed at the personal level first and then at the community level. We need to analyze the essence of the issue at the individual level.
We set the rules to maximize our benefits at the individual (or group) level and are provoked to change/violate the rules when they hinder our self interests. Hence, the real culprit behind the present dilemma is the self centered human nature.
Every individual accessing the services of the mess should realize their duties toward it.
Even if we lack experience in collective action then I think this is opportunity for us to learn.
Following some rules help us in efficient running and also beneficial otherwise.
For e.g. not allowed to take books in mess and TV room.
At least when we go for meals there we can relax and enjoy. Along with that chance of spilling something on book reduces though it may seem not trivial issue.
The solution for running the cooperative mess successfully is actually quite simple, considering the fact that we are studying the Course on CAC.
As a member of mess comm, what i feel is that unless and until the participants will feel that they are the members of the mess and not the customers, the problem can not be resolved.
And the reason why i am saying this is because the majority of participants just criticize the mess comm for any sort of poor performance, rather than they themselves involving in the process of improving the cooperative.
they are not realizing the fact that if the by their participation the operations of the mess will improve then eventually it is going to benefit them.
So net net unless we feel the ownership of it, we will not be putting our full efforts to improve it and this cannot be undertaken by a single individual.
@deepika
These rules are indeed useful.
But, do books really hinder the process of bill collection? Also, by not paying attention to the workings of the mess do we not leave all cost to be borne by the mess secs?
@Pawan
Why dont you conduct a poll asking the members if they would really like to permanently opt out of the mess, just for baseline data. you could also ask for more student support in the form of representatives.. we could think of making the tenures shorter, compulsory for all members.
What is the reason for no penalty on defaulters?
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