Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, on Monday, chaired a "Manthan Baithak" (brainstorming session) with Cooperation Ministers from all States and Union Territories in New Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of Cooperation to mark the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025, the meeting aimed to review ongoing schemes, assess achievements, and foster collaboration for strengthening India's cooperative sector. Ministers of Cooperation, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Secretaries of Cooperative Departments from across the country enthusiastically participated in the session.
In his address, Amit Shah highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision behind establishing the Ministry of Cooperation, emphasizing the revival of India's long-standing cooperative traditions while addressing contemporary needs. He noted the significant social change and developmental landscape that has emerged under the Modi government, especially in providing basic facilities like housing, sanitation, drinking water, and healthcare to crores of previously underserved citizens.
Shah underscored that these individuals now aspire to become entrepreneurs but lack initial capital. He stressed that cooperation offers the only viable path for them to undertake significant work with small investments. Emphasizing the dual importance of GDP/GSDP growth and job creation for all 140 crore people, he asserted that cooperation is the sole option for generating employment for every individual. "With sensitivity, cooperation must be revitalized for the welfare of millions of small farmers and rural people in the country because there are immense opportunities in this sector," he stated.
A review of the role of the states in supporting the functioning of the three newly formed national multi-state cooperative societies - National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL), National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) and Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) - was discussed in the meeting. The White Revolution 2.0 initiative, aimed at creating a sustainable and circular dairy economy, was also discussed. Policy matters related to procurement at a support price for pulses and maize under Atmanirbhar Bharat were also prominently discussed.
Ambitious Goals and Policy Reforms
The Union Minister outlined the Modi government's ambitious goal: ensuring that no village in the country is without a cooperative within the next five years. To achieve this, he called for the effective utilization of the National Cooperative Database, which identifies gaps in cooperative coverage at national, state, district, and tehsil levels.
Shah attributed the past weakening of India's cooperative movement to outdated laws and a lack of expansion and adaptation. He noted that the Modi government has addressed these legislative shortcomings. Addressing past nepotism in cooperative recruitments, he emphasized the role of the newly conceived Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU). He urged that every state should have at least one cooperative training institution affiliated with TSU, streamlining all cooperative training through the university.
Union Minister said that very soon, the National Cooperative Policy will also be announced, which will be effective from 2025 to 2045, i.e., approximately until the centenary of India’s independence. He said that under the National Cooperative Policy, each state’s cooperative policy will be formulated according to the cooperative conditions of that state and specific goals will be set. He said that only then will we be able to become an ideal cooperative state by the centenary of independence. Shah said that every state should announce its cooperative policy before January 31, 2026.
He added that regarding establishing 2 lakh Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), the target for the financial year 2025-26 should be completed by February next year itself, only then we can fulfil the ambitious goal on time.
Focus on Natural Farming and New Initiatives
Shah called for special attention to Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies. He informed that cooperative banks have been brought under the Banking Act, and the Reserve Bank of India has adopted a flexible approach to resolve many issues. He stressed that remaining problems can only be overcome through transparent bank operations and merit-based staff recruitment.
The Union Minister also emphasized promoting natural farming, urging state cooperation ministers to coordinate with their respective agriculture ministers to boost this practice for improved public health and soil health, citing Gujarat's successful 'Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives' experiment as a model.
Discussions at the meeting also covered the implementation of the world's largest grain storage scheme in the cooperative sector and the progress of setting up 2 lakh Multi-Purpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS) to enhance rural service delivery. Delegates presented their contributions for the "International Year of Cooperatives 2025" under the 'Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives' approach.
Key digital transformation initiatives such as the computerization of PACS and Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) offices, and the implementation of the National Cooperative Database (a crucial planning tool), were also reviewed.