Sir Edward Law headed the committee that reported on the introduction of cooperative societies in India, which led to the passing of the Co-operative Credit Societies Act of 1904.
The committee was formed after the Indian Famine Commission of 1901, which recommended the establishment of cooperative credit societies to help rural farmers.
The first legislation on Co-operative Credit Societies, was the Co-operative Credit Societies Act of 1904.
It was based on the report submitted by Sir Fredrik Nicholson.
This Act confined itself only to Primary Credit Societies.
In order to bring the non-credit societies also within its ambit, the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 was enacted.
