At the prestigious Co-op Kumbh 2025, organised by NAFCUB at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, Ms. Jalpa Jain, Director of Apani Sahakari Bank, Ahmedabad, delivered an inspiring and forward-looking address during the session “Youth in Cooperatives: Future Leadership and Innovation.”
Addressing a hall full of cooperative leaders and international delegates, Ms. Jain began by declaring that “Cooperatives are not stories of the past- they are the world’s oldest startup model, now powered by the world’s youngest energy.”
She emphasized that while capitalism scales profit and governments scale policy, “cooperatives scale people- and India has the youngest people.”
Highlighting the need for intergenerational collaboration, Ms. Jain said, “The question is not whether youth are ready, but whether we are ready to systematically prepare them.” She proposed the creation of Youth Advisory Councils in every Urban Cooperative Bank and Credit Society to review digital adoption, customer experience, and fraud awareness while working directly with boards.
Ms. Jain also advocated for youth-led cooperative enterprises and skill-based incubation centers focusing on women-led ventures, agri-value chains, and digital cooperatives.
Expressing gratitude to visionary leaders like Amit Shahji, Shri Jyotindra Mehta, and Sahakar Bharati’s leadership, she said their guidance helped her bank double profits in three years and empower 1,000 women towards self-reliance.
She concluded with a heartfelt appeal, “If you offer us mentorship, we offer you commitment. If you give us trust, we will give this movement its next hundred years.”
Add jain people in cooperative sector for their carriee
Really appreciate your views for the strngthen cooperative movement & your vision for future.
Congratulations ben.
Excellent