Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, addressed a major public gathering at the ‘Sahkar & Rojgar Utsav’ in Jaipur, where over 8,000 appointment letters were distributed to youth across Rajasthan. The event marked a significant step in celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives–2025, underlining the Modi government’s commitment to rural development and cooperative expansion.
At the event, Shah virtually inaugurated 24 grain storage warehouses and 64 millet outlets. Additionally, ?12 crore in loans were distributed to 1,400 cowherds under the Gopal Credit Card Scheme, and micro-ATMs were handed over to more than 2,300 dairy cooperatives. The White Revolution 2.0 was launched with a new platform for online registration of Primary Dairy Cooperative Societies (PDCS), along with a release of success stories under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Gareebi Mukt Gram Yojana and the Vande Ganga Water Conservation Campaign. He also flagged off 100 new vehicles for Rajasthan Police.
Highlighting the economic strength of cooperatives, Shah noted that they play a pivotal role in India’s rural economy, contributing 20% to procurement of paddy and wheat, 35% to fertilizer distribution, and 30% to sugar production. Over 8.5 lakh cooperatives today link 31 crore Indians, and 20% of fair price shops are run by cooperatives.
Shah also emphasized Rajasthan’s vital role in India’s agricultural output. The state leads the country in producing cluster beans, mustard, bajra, oilseeds, and millets. It contributes 46% of mustard, 44% of bajra, and 22% of total oilseeds, with high rankings in groundnut, jowar, gram, and soybean as well. PM Modi, he said, has dramatically increased MSP rates, by 73% for wheat, 82% for gram and groundnut, and 95% for mustard in the past 11 years.
To secure farmers’ incomes, the Modi government has guaranteed MSP-based procurement for pulses, oilseeds, and maize through the NAFED and NCCF apps. If market prices exceed MSP, farmers retain the freedom to sell at will. Shah also announced that research is underway on camel breed conservation and medicinal properties of camel milk under cooperative structures, ensuring Rajasthan’s iconic camel heritage is preserved.
Shah praised the Rajasthan government, under CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, for taking bold steps like forming an SIT to tackle rampant paper leak mafias and initiating development projects from MoUs worth ?35 lakh crore. The reduction in VAT on fuel, subsidized LPG cylinders, and progress under Jal Jeevan Mission were also highlighted.
Recalling India’s transformation under PM Modi’s leadership, Shah said the country has become the world’s fourth-largest economy, with 27 crore people lifted out of poverty and 60 crore poor provided essential services like housing, food grains, gas, electricity, and healthcare.
He also underscored the Modi government’s tough stance on national security, referencing the surgical and air strikes after the Uri and Pulwama attacks, and Operation Sindoor in Pahalgam, sending a clear message to India’s adversaries.
Finally, Shah hailed Rajasthan’s legacy of bravery and patriotism, remembering national heroes like Maharana Pratap, Panna Dhai, and Param Vir Chakra awardee Nirmal Singh Sekhon. He expressed confidence that by India@100 in 2047, Rajasthan’s cooperative sector will be the strongest in the nation.
