In alignment with the United Nations’ declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, the Maharashtra government has formed a high-level committee to ensure the effective implementation of various cooperative programs across the state.
The committee will be chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and will include prominent leaders such as Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
To ensure grassroots implementation, representatives from district cooperative banks, urban cooperative banks, and cooperative sugar factories have also been included. Vidyadhar Anaskar, Administrator of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, Kakasaheb Koyate, Chairman of Maharashtra State Cooperative Credit Societies Federation, and Suhas Patvardhan, Chairman of Maharashtra State Cooperative Housing Federation, have also been named as members. Their expertise is expected to contribute significantly to the execution of cooperative initiatives.
The decision was announced following directives from the Union Ministry of Cooperation, which emphasized the need for active participation from state governments in celebrating the year through year-long initiatives.
Besides, Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil, Agriculture Minister Adv. Mavinkar Kokate, and Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde have also been appointed as key members.
Additionally, Atul Save, Minister for Social Welfare, Dairy Development, and Renewable Energy, and Vantesh Rane, Minister for Fisheries, will play crucial roles in the committee’s activities.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde, Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, and Minister of State for Cooperation Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar are among other key figures on the panel.
The committee will also include top bureaucrats such as Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Cooperation and Marketing), Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), and Principal Secretaries from various departments.
The committee’s key responsibilities include overseeing state-level cooperative initiatives, ensuring coordination with central government programs, and promoting successful cooperative models.
Plans are underway to organize a “Cooperative Festival” to highlight Maharashtra’s achievements in the sector. Additionally, a comprehensive media strategy will be developed to spread awareness about the significance of cooperatives.
Meetings will be held quarterly to review progress, with detailed reports submitted to the national committee. The committee will also guide district-level bodies in implementing cooperative programs effectively.
The state government has made the official resolution available on its website, confirming its commitment to strengthening the cooperative movement in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra government’s proactive approach in forming this committee underscores its dedication to fostering cooperative growth. By bringing together key policymakers, administrators, and cooperative sector leaders, the state aims to maximize the impact of the International Year of Cooperatives, ensuring lasting benefits for Maharashtra’s cooperative ecosystem.
