Shri Raghuvir Samant, a social worker from Goregaon (East) was elected as the Chairman of the Federation on 7-8-1981. He had great aptitude for social service. He had devoted himself to the cause of co-operative housing movement. Curious enough, he studied the working of a co-operative housing society of which he was the Chairman, in greater details and acquired first hand knowledge of the working of a co-operative housing society. Being director of the Federation, his experience in the co-operative housing field was further widened. This enabled him to have quick grasp of the problems and solutions thereon. He was always surrounded by the representatives of the co-operative housing societies, discussing their problems and suggesting workable solutions to the problems. While examining the file placed before him, he not only minutely examined the problem but called the persons involved in the problem, made detailed enquiries, got such information as was necessary for coming to a conclusion while solving the problem and guided the persons properly. Since his elevation to the office of the Chairman of the Federation, he adopted quite a different modus operandi for tackling the problems. Whenever any common problems were referred to him, he never sat silent until he got replies to his communications from the authorities concerned and If replies to the communications were delayed, he immediately sent further communications, seeking appointments of concerned authorities for discussing the problems and argued the points with them and convinced them to agree to the proposals of the Federation.

Attending to 40-50 visitors every day discussing their vivid problems in greater details, finding out workable solution to them, visiting persons holding high position in Govt., Semi Govt., Institutions, presenting the problems of common interest to co-operative housing societies, boldly arguing the points involved in the proposals and persuading the Authorities concerned to agree with the views of the Federation, enabled him to gain rich experience of the movement.

With this rich experience to his credit and pragmatic desire to lead actions towards achieving the object in view, backed by the required patience, helped him bring a number of cases to a logical end. Relief from payment of stamp duty and registration charges, bringing about a change in the arrangements of audit of co-operative housing societies to suit the requirements of the societies, getting the form of agreement to be executed by a Flat purchaser with the Promoter, under section 4 of the Maharashtra Ownership flats Act approved by Govt. To put a check to the malpractices adopted by promoters to exploit the purchasers of flats, amendment by Govt. To section 101 of the MCS Act, 1960 to bring the dues of co-operative housing societies within the purview of the said section for recovery on the strength of recovery certificate issued by the Deputy Registrar, abolishing the supervision fees on co-operative housing societies, introduction of the revised model sets of byelaws for open plot and flat owner types of co-operative housing societies, touching all aspects of working a co-operative housing societies are some of the important accomplishments made by the Federation during the tenure of Late Shri Raghuvir Samant.

He began his carrier in the Federation as a Director then he adorned the position of Hon.Treasurer, Hon. Jt. Secretary,Hon.Secretary,Vice-Chairman and the Chairman since 1981 to 2009, it is not that Late Shri Samant restricted his field of activities to co-operative housing only but also made valuable contribution in other branches of co-operative movement.

He was elected as a Director of the Mumbai District Co-operative Housing Federation in 1972. He was Chairman of the Federation for sixteen consecutive years.

1. He was Director of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Housing Finance Corporation, for sixteen years.
2. He was Director of the Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Sangh, Pune for fifteen years.
3. He was Director of International Co-operative Housing Foundation for Asia and the Pacific Co-op. Hsg. Societies New Delhi.
4. He was nominated on Maharashtra State Co-operative Council (Maharashtra Government) for two terms.
5. He was member of the committee of the Housing Board. He was appointed as a member of Advisory Board of MTNL by Ministry of Telecommunications, Government of India.
6. He was appointed on the Law committee by the Government of India.
7. He represented India at the International Housing Conference held at Stockholm.
8. He undertook World Tour twice and visited Italy, Germany,Sweden, Holland, London and United States of America. He visited World Bank office in New York and pleaded for more funds to the core houses in Charkop and Gorai.
9. He was appointed as a member on the Expert Committee by the Commissioner for Co-operation to amend the Byelaws of Co-op. Hsg. Societies.
10. He was on the Board of Directors of Mumbai Urban Banks Federation.

During his tenure the Achivements made by Late Shri Raghuvir Samant:-

1. Rules of Registration of societies got relaxed for easy registration.
2. Suitable amendment to the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act,1963 to curb exploitation of the flat holders by the Builders.
3. He succeeded in getting exemption to the legal heirs of the deceased members for payment of Estate duty.
4. He also succeeded in getting waived condition of submission of Income Tax Clearance Certificate for registration of conveyance deed of property or registration of agreement.
5. Reduction in stamp duty.
6. Bringing of Housing Societies within the purview of Section 101 of the MCS Act-1960.
7. Appointment of Federation’s own Recovery Officers to recover dues under Section 101 of the MCS Act-1960.
8. The Federation got the housing societies exempted from Profession Tax.
9. Exemption to Co-operative Housing Societies members from two years ban of voting and participating in the affairs of Co-operative Housing Societies.
10. Four District level conference of co-operative housing societies in Mumbai.
11. Hundreds of one day seminars were organized by the Federation. In every Seminar, Sale Counter were opened to make available Byelaws, various booklets and forms for the convenience of member societies.