In alignment with the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, the Maharashtra State Cooperative Credit Societies Federation (MAFCOCS), in collaboration with the Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions, successfully hosted the International Cooperative Conference 2025 in Shirdi on Sunday.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from key figures in India’s credit cooperative movement and truly resembled a “Mahakumbh” or grand convergence of representatives from the sector.
The conference was graced by Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade, Maharashtra’s Cooperation Minister Balasaheb Patil, Water Resources Development (WRD) Minister Vikhe Patil, CEO of the Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions Ranjit Hettiarachchi, officials from Maharashtra’s Cooperation Department, NCUI General Council Member GH Amin, Sahakar Bharati President Uday Joshi, RBI Central Board Director Satish Marathe, and Buldana Urban’s Radheshyam Chandak, among others.
Addressing the participants, Governor Bagde emphasized the importance of transparency and ethical values in cooperative institutions.
He highlighted that Maharashtra’s cooperative movement dates back to before the Cooperative Act of 1904 and urged cooperative leaders to focus on correcting mistakes rather than concealing them. “People still trust the cooperative sector. It is essential to introduce new initiatives during the International Year of Cooperatives to guide struggling institutions,” Bagde remarked.
Governor Bagde also warned against unhealthy competition among cooperative societies regarding high interest rates on deposits. He stressed the need to prioritize deposit safety to maintain public confidence in
the cooperative movement.
In his opening remarks, MAFCOCS Chairman Kaka Koyte outlined the conference’s objectives, highlighting the pressing issues plaguing the credit cooperative movement that need immediate resolution.
WRD Minister Vikhe Patil lauded the achievements of Maharashtra’s cooperative institutions and urged others to follow their successful models. He noted that the Central Government is actively supporting the sector and suggested that cooperative institutions should invest in building warehouses for agricultural storage.
Cooperation Minister Balasaheb Patil revealed that Maharashtra currently has over 16,000 cooperative credit societies with nearly 30 crore people engaged in the movement.
He emphasized the need for a strong policy framework ensuring transparency in loan disbursements and called for the adoption of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency. “The 
state government is committed to addressing the challenges faced by cooperative institutions and will take necessary steps to support them,” he assured.
During the event, prominent cooperative leaders Shrikrishna Wadekar, Uday Joshi, and Ranjit Hettiarachchi also shared their insights on the future of cooperative societies.
The conference began with a tree plantation drive under the ‘Sahakar Vriksha’ initiative, symbolizing the commitment of the cooperative movement towards sustainability. Governor Bagde also led the attendees in taking the Cooperative Oath, reinforcing their dedication to cooperative values and ethical governance.
The International Cooperative Conference 2025 concluded on a high note, with attendees reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the cooperative sector in India through transparency, technological advancements, and ethical practices.
