The 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Gujarat State Co-operative Credit Societies Federation Ltd. (GSCCSF) along with a program focused on the need for professional management in co-operative credit societies was held on August 31, 2025, at “Sahyog”, Relief Road, Ahmedabad.
Ghanshyambhai H. Amin, Chairman of the Federation, presided over the event and emphasized the critical role of co-operatives in empowering the small and middle classes economically and fostering self-reliance.
He highlighted that co-operative activities are thriving in over 120 countries, recognized globally as effective tools for sustainable economic development, as affirmed by the United Nations.
The UN has again designated 2025 as the “International Year of Cooperatives” with the theme “Co-operatives Build a Better World,” launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a global conference in New Delhi in November 2024.
Amin stressed that the responsibility of the credit societies is to widely promote co-operative activities, raise public awareness, and ensure that benefits reach people at the grassroots, especially women and youth, to motivate their active participation.
Reflecting on contemporary developments, he pointed out that amendments to PACS by-laws now allow them to provide 22 different services, ranging from medical stores and ticket bookings to gas agencies and petrol pumps, encouraging them to professionally expand their business scope.
The Government of Gujarat’s decision to raise the dividend distribution limit from 15% to 20% and increase the limit of gifts to members was also praised. He called upon credit societies to modernize their operations to meet growing competition from small finance banks, particularly by revising deposit schemes, interest rates, and loan mechanisms.
A special focus was placed on extending microloans up to Rs. 50,000 to artisans, carpenters, masons, tailors, and laborers, to strengthen the self-reliance of small and middle classes. Notably, following persistent advocacy, the government exempted such small loans from stamp duty, a decision seen as a major milestone.
V.M. Chaudhary, MD of Kheti Bank and chief guest, described the co-operative model as a vital growth engine for India’s development and stressed the importance of maintaining trust and transparency in credit society operations.
Rajendra Trivedi, Executive Officer of Gujarat State Co-operative Union, endorsed the idea that “Prosperity through Co-operation” is not just a slogan but a realistic goal supported by government policies and transparent administration.
Practical insights on professional management in credit societies were provided by Alpeshbhai Raval and C.J. Dave, while Alkaben Shah and Mr. Bhatnagar offered guidance on integrating technology. Prakashbhai Jadav shared best practices in loan recovery.
As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of GSCCSF, the “Ghanshyam Amin Sahakari Award” was introduced to honor top-ranking students in Diploma in Co-operative Management courses, with awards distributed by Amin himself.
The award included a shield, certificate, and cash prize and was given to twelve top-performing students from six co-operative management centers across Gujarat.
Dushyantsinh Vaghela, CEO of the Federation, presented the proceedings and annual accounts, which were unanimously approved. Ghanshyambhai Amin was felicitated for his election to the Gujarat State Co-operative Union for the 12th consecutive term and as Director of the Cosmos Co-operative Bank.
The event concluded with a welcome address by Jivrajbhai Godhani and a vote of thanks by Gopalbhai Dhanka, with the program conducted by Alpeshbhai Raval and C.J. Dave. The AGM witnessed significant participation from members of the Federation.
