Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah marked the completion of four years of the Ministry of Cooperation at a landmark event in Anand, Gujarat, reaffirming the Modi government’s commitment to building a robust, technology-driven and inclusive cooperative ecosystem across India.
The event, attended not only by Gujarat’s top leadership including the Chief Minister, but also by prominent cooperators such as Dileep Sanghani, Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, U. S. Awasthi, and others, also paid tribute to iconic national figures including Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and marked the 150th birth anniversary year of the latter.
Speaking on the occasion, Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for institutionalizing India’s age-old cooperative tradition through the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation. “Cooperation has been in our ethos since the Vedic era, but it was Modi Ji who gave it legislative structure and direction,” Shah said, emphasizing that over 8.4 lakh cooperative societies, impacting more than 31 crore people, have been revitalized through the ministry’s initiatives.
Since its inception, the Ministry has undertaken over 60 initiatives structured around five key pillars, People, PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies), Platform, Policy, and Prosperity. Shah elaborated that these initiatives are designed not just to improve individual livelihoods but to elevate entire communities. The creation of 2 lakh new PACS, the establishment of the country’s first Cooperative University, and a National Cooperative Database are among the major reforms poised to transform the sector.
Underlining the cooperative model’s potential in boosting various sectors, from milk and sugar to banking and digital payments, Shah launched a series of major initiatives. These included the launch of the Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation, a new multi-state cooperative body aimed at creating a circular economy in the dairy sector. Modeled on Amul’s success, the Federation promises fair pricing and market access for dairy farmers nationwide.
In a significant boost to self-reliance in the dairy industry, Shah virtually inaugurated the expansion of the
Amul Cheese Plant at Khatraj and a state-of-the-art Chocolate Plant at Mogar. Together, the Rs 365 crore investment is set to double production capacity and expand value-added dairy products. He also unveiled the Rs 45 crore Ready-to-Use Culture (RUC) Plant, which will help India reduce import dependence in dairy inputs, and inaugurated the Rs 32 crore NCDFI headquarters building, Maniben Patel Bhawan, at the NDDB complex.
Among other notable developments, the foundation stone was laid for the new NDDB office building. Shah also highlighted the launch of the Kutch District Salt Cooperative Society, which he said could evolve into a movement for salt workers much like Amul did for milk producers.
The minister stressed that transparency, technological adoption, and member-centric governance must become the defining traits of cooperative institutions, especially in the International Year of Cooperatives. “Without transparency, cooperatives weaken; without technology, they fall behind; and if members are not at the center, they fail,” he said, urging cooperative leaders to internalize these principles.
Shah concluded by asserting that India’s cooperative movement is no longer confined to rural margins but is now integral to national economic growth. With projects ranging from dairy and salt to databases and digital platforms, the government’s cooperative push is transforming livelihoods and fulfilling the vision of inclusive prosperity.
As India advances into the International Year of Cooperatives, the Ministry’s comprehensive roadmap, powered by people and policy, sets the stage for a new era of cooperative-led development—one that aspires to uplift not just individuals, but entire communities.
