Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting on Thursday to evaluate the progress of India’s cooperative sector and emphasized the importance of forging global partnerships to further boost its growth. The discussion revolved around transformative initiatives under the “Sahkar Se Samruddhi” campaign, aimed at modernizing the sector through technological advancements and increasing youth and women’s participation in cooperatives.
Promoting Organic Products and Export Markets:
PM Modi stressed the need for cooperative organizations to promote organic products and tap into international markets. He proposed developing a soil testing model through cooperatives to enhance agricultural practices and recommended integrating the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with RuPay Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) for seamless financial transactions for farmers.
Cooperative Farming and Digital Tools:
The Prime Minister highlighted the benefits of cooperative farming as a sustainable agricultural model. He called for the use of digital public infrastructure, such as Agristack, to improve farmers’ access to services.
Education and Training in Cooperatives:
To inspire younger generations, PM Modi proposed introducing cooperative courses in educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and management institutions like IIMs. This initiative aims to encourage young graduates to engage in the cooperative movement.
National Cooperation Policy:
The Prime Minister reviewed progress on the National Cooperation Policy, formulated after extensive consultations. The policy focuses on rural economic development and prioritizes empowering women and youth in the sector.
Modernizing Cooperatives through Digitization:
The Ministry of Cooperation has initiated 60 projects across seven key areas, including the digitization of cooperative institutions through projects like the National Cooperative Database and the Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
Strengthening Cooperative Institutions:
Efforts to enhance the sustainability of cooperative sugar mills and diversify income-generating activities have been undertaken. The integration of 15 government schemes across more than 10 ministries at the PACS level has significantly improved rural access to these schemes.
Legislative Push for Cooperative Education:
To promote cooperative education and research, a Bill has been introduced in Parliament to transform IRMA Anand into “Tribhuvan Cooperative University,” which will be designated as an Institution of National Importance.
Cooperatives play a pivotal role in India’s economy, particularly in agriculture, rural development, and economic inclusion. With over 8.2 lakh cooperative institutions spanning more than 30 sectors and a membership exceeding 30 crore individuals, one-fifth of India’s population is directly associated with this sector.
The meeting was attended by Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Cooperation Secretary Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Principal Secretary to PM Dr. PK Mishra, and other senior officials. Together, they reviewed strategies to strengthen and modernize India’s cooperative movement.
