A. G. West Bengal Employees' Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. at Panchasayar (a land of five lakes) was formed with close adherence to the chief objective of the co-operative housing society movement and that is, 'housing for all'. This unique mission started to take shape from the year 1966 and from the very moment of its inception the Society was motivated to provide for its members an affordable habitation in the neighbourhood of the City of Kolkata, yet in the bosom of open Nature. The outcome of this superb endeavour is the present housing area of Panchasayar, comprising of an almost geometrically laid out cluster of approximately 600 plots, spaced out with lakes, parks and wide inner roads.The settlement is surrounded by Peerless Hospital on the north, Upohar Housing Complex of Ambuja Group on the east, and New Garia railway station on the south.
To fulfil the co-operative objective the A. G. Housing Co-operative enjoyed the collaboration of Ayakar Griha Nirman Samabay Samity Ltd. and the entire task of developing the housing area at Panchasayar was undertaken by the two Societies jointly. There are sundry aspects of the community life at Panchasayar which are jointly managed by the twin Societies.
The threefold attribute of being 'self-sufficient, beautiful and sanitary', just as the initiator members envisioned it, characterises the ambience of the housing area of the A. G. W. B. Co-operative Society. To this list has been of late added the perspective of security. An efficient security system has been initiated to ensure safety to the lives and properties of the residents. Upgradations in this field are on the anvil. Thus, the plan of the Co-operative area is by no means devoid of utilitarian and pragmatic features. There had been diligent efforts right from the outset to provide for all the necessary amenities of a fast growing urban community. A primary school (Panchasayar Shishu Niketan) and a higher secondary School (Panchasayar Shiksha Niketan), a co-operative consumers' store (Bipani), a club (Panchasayar Krira o Samskriti Sansad) for sports and cultural activities, a well equipped ceremonial hall (Pancha Parban) and a Shiva temple (Amrita Sebayatan), have been useful additions in this respect. All these extensions of the society life of Panchasayar are jointly managed by the Ayakar Griha Nirman Samabaya and A. G. W. B. Co-operative Society through appointment of specific committees. Other facilities like banks, hospitals, post office, markets and connectivity through railways and road are also quite within reach of the residents of the housing area. In this connection it may be cited here that the land for Peerless Hospital Complex was leased out to prove the Co-operative Society's social commitment.
The unique wealth of Panchasayar consists of its five huge lakes, and well spread-out greenery that houses a variety of fauna and flora. With a view to preserve and nurture the original serenity and the natural expanse of the locality, the original plan of the land was laid out in such a manner that the constructed area would never exceed 25% of the total land layout.
The Co-operative society of A. G. West Bengal considers the preservation of the Co-operative ideals as its supreme priority. As the present Society continues to travel along the path traced by its founder members, it has avowed to profess its allegiance to the principles of transparency, honesty and solidarity and to continue its crusade against all land related evils like promoting, illegal encroachment and unethical profiteering.
For A. G. West Bengal Employees' Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. the mandate of the day is -
'Housing with Ethics and Aesthetics'.
