Mahesh, who grew up in the slum areas of Mumbai, has always wanted to improve the living conditions in his neighbourhood. Now that he has secured a job, he plans to form a society to work towards community development. E

A society is an association of persons who voluntarily unite to deliberate, determine and act jointly for a common purpose. Societies are generally formed for the promotion of charitable objectives such as education, art, religion, culture, music, sports and similar activities. According to Section 20 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860, societies can be formed for the following purposes: Charitable societies; The military orphan funds or societies established at the several presidencies of India; Societies established for the promotion of science, literature, or the fine arts for instruction, the diffusion of useful knowledge; The diffusion of political education; The foundation or maintenance of libraries or reading-rooms for general use among the members or open to the public; Public museums and galleries of paintings and other works of art, collections of natural history, mechanical and philosophical inventions, instruments, or designs. Besides these purposes, the respective State Governments may provide for any other objects by their legislations.