User Guide

Registration

To use the Cooperative Societies Management System, you need to create an account:

1. Click on the Register button on the homepage.
2. Fill in your personal details including:
   • First name and last name
   • Email address (must be unique)
   • Phone number
   • Password (at least 8 characters)
3. Click Create Account to complete your registration.

Logging In

Once registered, you can log in to your account:

1. Click the Login button on the homepage.
2. Enter your email and password.
3. Click Login to access your account.

Dashboard Overview

After logging in, you'll see your dashboard which includes:

• My Societies: Societies you've joined
• Account Summary: Your financial overview
• Recent Activity: Latest transactions and events
• Loan Status: Status of any active loans
• Pending Actions: Items that need your attention

Profile Information

To update your personal information:

1. Click on your name in the top right corner.
2. Select Profile from the dropdown menu.
3. Click Edit Profile to update your information.
4. Make the necessary changes and click Save Changes.

Changing Your Password

To change your password:

1. Go to your profile page.
2. Click on the Security tab.
3. Enter your current password and your new password.
4. Confirm your new password and click Update Password.

Account Settings

You can customize your account settings:

1. Go to your profile page.
2. Click on the Settings tab.
3. Adjust notification preferences, privacy settings, and other options.
4. Click Save Settings to apply changes.

Browsing Available Societies

To find cooperative societies you can join:

1. Click on Societies in the main navigation menu.
2. Browse through the list of available societies.
3. Use the search box to find societies by name or location.
4. Click on a society's name to view more details about it.

Joining a Society

To submit a request to join a society:

1. Navigate to the society's details page.
2. Click the Join Society button.
3. Fill out the required information in the join request form.
4. Click Submit Request to send your application.

Checking Join Request Status

To check the status of your join requests:

1. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner.
2. Select My Join Requests from the dropdown menu.
3. View the status of each request (Pending, Approved, or Rejected).

Loan Eligibility

Before applying for a loan, ensure you meet these requirements:

• You must be an active member of the society.
• Your membership must be at least 3 months old (may vary by society).
• You must have made regular contributions as required by your society.
• You should not have any overdue loans with the society.
• You need to secure guarantors as required by the society's loan policy.

Applying for a Loan

To apply for a loan:

1. Navigate to the Loans section in the main menu.
2. Click on Apply for Loan.
3. Select the society from which you want to request the loan.
4. Fill in the loan application form:
   • Loan amount
   • Purpose of the loan
   • Preferred repayment period
   • Supporting documents (if required)
5. Add guarantors as required (see Guarantors section).
6. Review your application and click Submit Application.

Tracking Loan Status

To check the status of your loan applications:

1. Go to the Loans section in the main menu.
2. Click on My Loan Applications.
3. View the status of each application (Pending, Approved, Disbursed, Rejected).
4. Click on a specific loan to view more details or take necessary actions.

Repaying a Loan

To make loan repayments:

1. Go to the Loans section in the main menu.
2. Click on Active Loans.
3. Select the loan you want to repay.
4. Click on Make Payment.
5. Enter the payment amount and method.
6. Submit your payment information.

Understanding Guarantors

A guarantor is a fellow society member who agrees to take responsibility for your loan if you are unable to repay it. Most society loans require one or more guarantors.

Adding Guarantors to Your Loan Application

To add guarantors to your loan application:

1. During the loan application process, navigate to the Guarantors section.
2. Click Add Guarantor.
3. Search for society members by name, email, or member ID.
4. Select the member you want to add as a guarantor.
5. Specify the guarantee amount (if applicable).
6. Add additional guarantors as required.

Guarantor Requests

When someone adds you as a guarantor:

1. You'll receive a notification in your account and via email.
2. Go to Guarantor Requests in your dashboard.
3. Review the loan details, including amount, duration, and your guarantee portion.
4. Choose to Accept or Decline the request.

Managing Your Guarantees

To view loans you've guaranteed:

1. Go to My Guarantees in the dashboard.
2. View active guarantees and their status.
3. Monitor repayment progress of loans you've guaranteed.

Understanding Contributions

Contributions are regular payments made to your society. These build your savings and determine your eligibility for loans.

Viewing Contribution Requirements

To check your society's contribution requirements:

1. Navigate to your society's homepage.
2. Click on the Contribution Guidelines tab.
3. Review the contribution schedule and minimum requirements.

Making a Contribution

To make a contribution to your society:

1. Go to the Contributions section in the main menu.
2. Click Make Contribution.
3. Select the society to which you want to contribute.
4. Enter the contribution amount.
5. Select the payment method.
6. Follow the prompts to complete your payment.

Contribution History

To view your contribution history:

1. Go to the Contributions section.
2. Click on Contribution History.
3. Filter by date range or society if needed.
4. View detailed records of all your past contributions.

Sending Messages

To send a message to other society members:

1. Click on Messages in the main navigation menu.
2. Click Compose Message.
3. Select the recipient(s) from your society members.
4. Enter a subject for your message.
5. Type your message in the body field.
6. Click Send Message.

Reading Messages

To read messages you've received:

1. Click on Messages in the main navigation.
2. Click on Inbox to see all received messages.
3. Unread messages are highlighted in bold.
4. Click on a message to read its full content.

Managing Messages

To manage your messages:

1. From the Messages section, you can:
   • View sent messages by clicking Sent.
   • Delete messages by selecting them and clicking Delete.
   • Mark messages as read or unread.
   • Reply to messages directly from the message view.

Types of Society Documents

Your society may provide various documents for members, including:

• Rules and Bylaws: The governing rules of the society
• Policies: Official policies on loans, contributions, etc.
• Financial Reports: Regular financial statements
• Minutes: Records of society meetings
• Offerings: Information about available financial products

Accessing Documents

To access society documents:

1. Navigate to your society's homepage by clicking on its name in My Societies.
2. Scroll down to the Society Documents section.
3. Click on a document title to view it.
4. For all available documents, click View All Documents.

Searching for Documents

To find specific documents:

1. Go to your society's documents page.
2. Use the filter buttons to sort documents by type.
3. Use the search box to find documents by keyword.