- Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah spoke at an Ahmedabad special "Sahkar Samvad" event
- Amit Shah emphasized the vital role of cooperatives in fostering grassroots development and community empowerment
- The goal of the interaction was to encourage inclusive growth and increase women's participation in the cooperative sector
Speaking at the 'Sahkar Samvad' in Ahmedabad, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah emphasized the revolutionary role of India's cooperative movement in empowering rural society, particularly women. Women cooperative workers from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan came together on one platform for the event, which was a part of the celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.
Shah also announced the setting up of "Tribhuvan Sahkari University" in Anand, Gujarat, to commemorate Tribhuvandas Patel—the doyen of India's cooperative movement and the drive behind Amul's ₹80,000 crore women-driven dairy success.
He announced a number of new projects, such as the renewal of cooperative dairies to tap the use of cow dung, animal health, and the management of feed. He detailed measures to turn cow dung into bio-manure and biogas to bring 400 of every 500 milk-producing households into the cooperative fold. He also invited dairy cooperatives to hang portraits of Patel to commemorate his legacy and motivate future generations.
The cooperative model of dairy, Shah said, has now been transformed to 19 states by the National Dairy Development Board. He also explained the modernization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) into multi-service centers, providing more than 25 services including Common Service Centres (CSCs), Micro ATMs, rural water supply schemes, and Jan Aushadhi Kendras for low-cost drugs.
Terming the Ministry of Cooperation more purposeful than even the Home Ministry, Shah stated that it works in the benefit of the poorest, farmers, animals, and rural India. He wound up by stating plans for conducting 10 more 'Chaupals' in states to collect grassroot inputs and frame future cooperative policies.
