Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah announced the formation of the Kutch District Salt Cooperative Society, a transformative initiative aimed at uplifting salt-producing labourers through a structured cooperative model. The announcement came during celebrations marking the four-year journey of the Ministry of Cooperation in Anand, Gujarat.
Calling it a new model for sectoral cooperatives, Shah said the society would ensure that profits from salt production directly reach the hands of the workers who toil in harsh conditions. Inspired by the success of Amul, the initiative is expected to evolve into a strong grassroots movement, creating a fair, transparent, and self-reliant ecosystem for salt workers.
The society will focus on organizing salt producers, facilitating market linkages, and providing them with input services and fair pricing. It is also expected to serve as a replicable model for other informal sectors across India.
The cooperative is expected to bring together small and marginal salt farmers of the Kutch region, many from the Agariya community, onto a common cooperative platform. This will ensure fair pricing, shared profits, and institutional support for their traditional salt farming efforts.
Shah emphasized that the model could serve as a template for salt-producing regions across the country, enabling grassroots producers to gain better economic returns and dignity through cooperative strength. This launch aligns with the government’s broader push for inclusive growth through cooperatives in the International Year of Cooperatives.
