- Over 60 significant initiatives have been undertaken in the cooperative sector
- Since the formation of the new Ministry of Cooperation, the sector has witnessed unprecedented progress
DILEEP SANGHANI
Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has left no stone unturned in realizing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi”
Second revolution in India’s coop movement
In these four years following the establishment of the new Ministry, the sector has seen transformative growth. Under Shah’s leadership, not only have the shortcomings in the cooperative movement been swiftly identified and addressed, but also notable reforms have been introduced to provide a new direction to the sector. To call this the second revolution in India’s cooperative movement would not be an exaggeration. During this period, more than 60 critical initiatives have been rolled out.
Additional 2 lakh PACS to be set up
The Ministry’s relentless efforts under Shah in creating a database of cooperative societies are highly praiseworthy. Reforms have been implemented across the spectrum, from model by-laws to apex organizations. A target has been set to establish an additional 2,00,000 PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies), including agriculture, dairy, fisheries, and salt PACS, to expand the reach of cooperation to every village in the country.
To ensure transparency and efficiency in cooperatives, the computerization of PACS has been fast-tracked. Shah has spearheaded the revival of cooperatives in collaboration with states. Obsolete cooperative laws have been suitably amended, and new provisions introduced.
Bid to democratize coops
As part of legal reforms in the cooperative sector, necessary amendments have been made to the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act. A separate Central Cooperative Election Authority has been established to oversee elections in cooperatives.
Tribhuvan Coop University to churn out trained youth
To empower PACS, they have been linked with commercial activities, integrating schemes from various ministries. Several initiatives have been launched to attract youth to the cooperative movement. To ensure the participation of trained and skilled youth in cooperatives, the government has established the country’s first Tribhuvan Cooperative University, which will commence academic activities from this session. This university will offer specialized courses in cooperative management, leadership, entrepreneurship, digital governance, and policy-making to train students and cooperative professionals. Through this university, the demand for skilled human resources in cooperative banks, marketing federations, housing societies, agricultural service societies, and other sectors will be met effectively.
Addressing the challenges faced by government-owned sugar mills, Shah has ensured they receive equal opportunities alongside private and public sector mills. The income tax system has been rationalized, and their financial hurdles have been resolved.
3 national-level coop societies to increase farmers’ income
Three national-level cooperative societies—focused on seeds, exports, and organics—have been established, contributing to increased farmer incomes. In response to India’s food security needs, the cooperative sector has taken up the world’s largest grain storage initiative. Work has begun on creating storage facilities at the gram panchayat level, with the pilot project already completed and the first phase underway.
NAFED and NCCF ensure MSP-based procurement of pulses and oilseeds
In a notable step to ease farmers’ challenges, the Ministry of Cooperation has empowered cooperative societies to procure farmers’ produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Cooperative organizations like NAFED and NCCF are now ensuring MSP-based procurement of pulses and oilseeds.
NCDC to increase credit disbursement
On the government’s initiative, cooperative banks are now enjoying facilities similar to those available to public and private sector banks. They have been permitted to open new branches and expand their commercial operations. The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has seen an unprecedented increase in its credit disbursement, with projections for the current financial year approaching ₹1.75 lakh crore. This has significantly strengthened the financial capacity of cooperative institutions.
Over the past four years, the Ministry of Cooperation has undertaken more than 60 landmark initiatives, benefiting cooperative societies across the country.
With 29 crore members & 8.5 lakh coops, rural economy gets boost
India has a rich and impactful tradition of cooperative movements, which have played a crucial role in driving socio-economic transformation, especially in rural and agriculture-based economies. Today, there are over 8,50,000 cooperative societies in the country, with approximately 290 million citizens participating as members. These societies are actively engaged in agricultural production, rural finance, housing, marketing, consumer services, the dairy sector, fisheries, and other industries.
The author of this article, Dileep Sanghani, is the President, NCUI & IFFCO and also a Former Minister, Gujarat
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