Who Can Join

Membership Eligibility

BDRC membership is open to independent retailers who meet defined eligibility criteria. Our focus is on neighbourhood stores and kiranas that serve local communities.

Primary Eligibility Criteria

Independent Retailers

BDRC serves independent retail businesses:

  • Neighbourhood stores (kiranas)
  • General merchandise retailers
  • Provision stores
  • Independent supermarkets serving local areas
  • Other retail formats serving neighbourhood customers

The common characteristic is independent ownership and operation.

Business Legitimacy

Prospective members must demonstrate legitimate business operations:

  • Valid business registration or documentation as required by local regulations
  • Physical retail location serving customers
  • Established business operations (defined minimum operating period may apply)
  • Compliance with applicable retail trade regulations

Legitimacy ensures the cooperative maintains regulatory standing and member trust.

Geographic Presence

BDRC operates across India as a national multi-state cooperative. Members may be located in any state or territory where the cooperative is registered to operate.

Initial membership may focus on specific regions, expanding as the cooperative builds capacity.

Commitment to Cooperative Principles

Prospective members must:

  • Accept the cooperative’s bylaws and regulations
  • Commit to ethical business practices
  • Agree to participate in democratic governance
  • Respect the rights and interests of other members

Membership is more than a transaction; it is participation in a cooperative community.

Business Types

Eligible Business Formats

BDRC welcomes various retail formats that serve neighbourhood customers:

  • Traditional kirana stores
  • General provision stores
  • Neighbourhood supermarkets
  • Combined retail and service businesses
  • Home-based legitimate retail operations
  • Mobile retail serving fixed local areas

Format matters less than independence and local customer service.

Excluded Business Types

Certain business types are not eligible for membership:

  • Outlets owned or controlled by large retail chains
  • Franchise operations where independence is limited
  • Wholesale-only businesses without retail customer service
  • Online-only operations without physical local presence
  • Businesses primarily serving institutional rather than individual customers

These exclusions maintain focus on independent neighbourhood retail.

Ownership Requirements

Individual Ownership

Individual proprietors operating retail businesses are eligible for membership.

Partnership Firms

Registered partnership firms operating retail businesses may be eligible, with membership held according to defined procedures.

Small Private Companies

Small private companies operating independent retail outlets may be eligible under specific conditions that ensure alignment with cooperative principles.

Family Businesses

Family-owned and operated retail businesses are welcome, regardless of formal business structure, provided they meet legitimacy and independence criteria.

Scale Considerations

BDRC does not impose strict size limits but maintains focus on neighbourhood retail:

Typical Member Profile

  • Single location or small number of locations
  • Local customer base
  • Independent decision-making
  • Owner involvement in operations
  • Community-integrated business

Large Operations

Retailers with many locations or significant scale may not be appropriate members if their business model differs fundamentally from neighbourhood retail.

Focus remains on businesses where cooperative membership provides meaningful benefit and where members share common interests with the broader membership.

Special Considerations

Rural Retailers

BDRC welcomes rural retailers. Special provisions may apply to accommodate rural business realities:

  • Different documentation requirements where appropriate
  • Recognition of informal business structures common in rural areas
  • Accommodation of seasonal business patterns
  • Support for digital adoption challenges

Rural retail is vital to BDRC’s vision.

Urban Informal Retailers

Many urban retailers operate informally while maintaining legitimate customer-serving businesses. BDRC works to accommodate these retailers while meeting cooperative regulatory requirements.

Pathways to membership may include:

  • Support for obtaining necessary documentation
  • Recognition of alternative proof of business operations
  • Gradual formalization support
  • Appropriate documentation standards

Inclusion is balanced with regulatory compliance.

Retailers in Transition

Retailers evolving their business model remain eligible provided they maintain focus on neighbourhood customer service and independent operation.

Application Process

Prospective members apply through defined procedures:

  1. Initial Expression of Interest Retailers indicate interest in membership through designated channels.

  2. Information Provision Prospective members receive information about BDRC, membership requirements, rights, and responsibilities.

  3. Eligibility Verification Basic verification that the business meets eligibility criteria.

  4. Application Submission Formal application with required documentation.

  5. Review and Approval Application review according to established procedures. Approval by designated authority.

  6. Membership Admission Formal admission as a member, including share capital subscription and acceptance of bylaws.

The process is designed to be accessible while maintaining appropriate standards.

Membership Fees and Share Capital

Members contribute to cooperative capital through:

Share Capital

Each member subscribes for share capital as defined in bylaws. Share capital represents member ownership stake in the cooperative.

Share capital amounts are set to be accessible for neighbourhood retailers while providing necessary cooperative capital.

Membership Fee

An initial membership fee may apply to cover administrative costs of membership admission.

Fees are kept minimal to ensure accessibility.

Ongoing Contributions

Members may be required to maintain minimum share capital or make additional contributions as decided democratically by the membership.

All financial requirements are transparent and subject to member governance.

No Discrimination

BDRC does not discriminate based on:

  • Religion, caste, or community
  • Gender or family status
  • Regional origin
  • Language
  • Any factor unrelated to legitimate eligibility criteria

Membership is open to all eligible retailers on equal terms.

Membership Capacity

BDRC may manage membership growth to match cooperative capacity:

  • Staged geographic expansion
  • Managed onboarding to ensure quality member service
  • Temporary limitations where necessary for operational reasons

Any limitations are temporary and applied fairly.

Questions About Eligibility

If you are unsure whether your business is eligible for BDRC membership, please:

  • Review our FAQs
  • Contact us with specific questions
  • Attend member information sessions where available

We welcome inquiries from interested retailers.

Next Steps

If you meet eligibility criteria and wish to join BDRC: