In a landmark initiative, the Union Ministry of Cooperation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and NCERT, successfully launched a special bilingual educational module on cooperatives aimed at sensitizing school students about India’s cooperative movement.
The module was formally unveiled by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on 5th July 2025 during the foundation stone laying ceremony of Tribhuvan Sahakari University in Anand, Gujarat.
Prepared by NCERT, the development and coordination of the module were led by Mrs. Minu Sukhla Pathak, Secretary, National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT), who worked closely with officials from the Ministry of Education and NCERT.
During the event, Secretary Pathak presented copies of the module to the Union Minister and other dignitaries on the dais.
Crafted in Hindi and English, the module has been designed to be interactive, accessible, and student-friendly. It reflects the Ministry’s commitment to integrating cooperative education into school curricula and nurturing youth with cooperative values.
The module introduces students to topics such as the concept of cooperatives since ancient India, their constitutional status, principles and values, and their role pre- and post-independence. It also covers prominent cooperative leaders, various forms of cooperatives, and the Ministry’s recent initiatives.
The Ministry also announced plans to include cooperative content across classes 6 and above, and eventually introduce Cooperation as an optional subject for classes 11 and 12, enabling students to connect further with institutions like Tribhuvan Sahakari University.
This step ensures that the message of “Sahkarita ek vichar nahi, ek andolan hai” (Cooperation is not just a concept, but a movement) reaches every young learner in the country.
On 4th July 2025, institutions under the National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT), including RICMs and ICMs, held a series of walkathons to mark the fourth anniversary of the Ministry of Cooperation and the International Year of Cooperatives.
URICM Gandhinagar hosted a “Cooperative Walkathon” led by NCCT Secretary Mrs. Meenu Shukla Pathak, with active participation from PGDM-ABM students, Director-in-charge Mr. Neelu Pandey, and staff.
IGICM Lucknow’s walkathon celebrated the Ministry’s contributions to strengthening the cooperative movement. DGICM Nagpur rallied students, cooperators, and trainees in a spirited show of unity.
RICM Chandigarh’s event featured Shri Rajesh Jogpal, IAS, as Chief Guest, drawing wide participation. ICM Imphal marked the Ministry’s Foundation Day with a vibrant walkathon. At ICM Thiruvananthapuram, faculty, staff, and trainees joined a walk to raise awareness about the Ministry’s initiatives and the significance of cooperatives.
These coordinated efforts reflected the shared commitment to promoting cooperative values across the country.