Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday showcased the success of the ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives’ campaign in Gujarat while replying in the Rajya Sabha, calling it a major step towards the vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi”.
Launched as a pilot in Banaskantha and Panchmahal in May 2023, the initiative was expanded statewide in January 2024 after strong results. Shah informed that the campaign focuses on boosting financial inclusion by linking cooperative societies with banking services and providing doorstep facilities.
As per official data, over 33 lakh deposit accounts have been opened, 10,079 Bank Mitras appointed, and 10,265 Micro-ATMs distributed. Additionally, around 6.5 lakh RuPay Kisan Credit Cards and 9.5 lakh KCCs for animal husbandry have been issued to cooperative members.
The Minister said the initiative has significantly improved access to credit for farmers, dairy producers, and rural communities. Following its success, a nationwide rollout framework was launched in September 2024 to replicate the model across India.