While addressing a press conference in Pune on Wednesday, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Muralidhar Mohol announced that the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) will play a pivotal role as an integral part of the newly proposed Tribhuvan Cooperative University — a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening India’s cooperative sector.
He said that the establishment of this university follows a significant step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2021, when an independent Ministry of Cooperation was formed and entrusted to Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. Under his leadership, several critical decisions have been implemented for the development and modernization of cooperatives across the country.
Mohol added that currently, India is home to more than 8 lakh cooperative societies, with nearly 30 crore members engaged across diverse sectors. A major focus area has been the expansion and transformation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). So far, 32 states and Union Territories have adopted new development models, linking PACS to 25 additional economic activities, thereby diversifying their roles and increasing their impact.
Given the anticipated growth in the cooperative space, the country is expected to require approximately 17 lakh trained professionals over the next five years. To meet this demand and ensure effective administration while minimizing irregularities, the Tribhuvan Cooperative University is being established. This national-level university will emphasize research and development, offer high-quality training, and act as a catalyst for employment generation and entrepreneurial opportunities.
He informed that functioning under a Parliamentary Act, the university will adopt a Hub and Spoke model, operating across all states and offering education in Hindi, English, and regional languages, thereby making cooperative education accessible to all. VAMNICOM, Pune, recognized for its longstanding contributions to the sector, will serve as a key component of the university, strengthening its academic and training framework.
VAMNICOM Director Hema Yadav and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
