Gujarat: In a powerful celebration of India’s cooperative spirit, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, addressed a historic gathering in Anand, Gujarat, marking four years since the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation. The event also honored the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, highlighting a legacy of unity and economic empowerment. Launching multiple key initiatives across dairy, technology, and grassroots cooperative sectors, Shri Shah emphasized transparency, technology adoption, and community-centered growth as the pillars of the future.
A Vision Rooted in Tradition: 4 Years of the Ministry of Cooperation
Shri Amit Shah began his address by invoking the deep-rooted tradition of cooperation in Indian society, dating back to the Vedic era. He hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision in 2021 to institutionalize this tradition by creating the Ministry of Cooperation, a move that revitalized over 8.4 lakh cooperative societies, impacting nearly 31 crore Indians.
“The Ministry has taken over 60 impactful initiatives in just four years, guided by the 5 Ps – People, PACS, Platform, Policy, and Prosperity,” said Shri Shah.
Five Ps Guiding the Cooperative Renaissance
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People: Keeping citizens, especially women, farmers, and laborers, at the center of policy implementation.
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PACS: Plans to establish 2 lakh new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, enhancing rural financial access.
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Platform: Development of digital and national cooperative platforms for efficient service delivery.
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Policy: Ensuring equitable profits and transparency, even in niche sectors like salt production.
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Prosperity: Economic empowerment of 56 lakh women working in cooperatives, with a target turnover of ₹1 lakh crore by next year.
Game-Changing Launches: Cheese, Chocolate, and Cooperative Infrastructure
In a landmark move, Shri Shah virtually launched two major Amul projects:
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Amul Chocolate Plant (Mogar): ₹105 crore investment; capacity doubled from 30 to 60 tonnes/day.
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Dr. Verghese Kurien Cheese Plant (Khatraj): ₹260 crore investment for UHT milk, whey drinks, mozzarella, processed cheese, and smart warehousing.
He also inaugurated:
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Ready-to-Use Culture (RUC) Plant by NDDB (₹45 crore).
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NCDFI Headquarters – Maniben Patel Bhawan (₹32 crore).
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Laid foundation for new NDDB HQ building, Anand.
“These steps make India more self-sufficient in high-quality dairy products and boost rural entrepreneurship,” said Shah.
Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation: A New Model for Inclusive Growth
Shri Shah unveiled the Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited, aimed at creating a circular economy in dairy—covering fair procurement, input services, and price stabilization.
He also announced the launch of Kutch District Salt Cooperative Society, calling it the Amul of salt producers, uplifting thousands of laborers in the salt belt through cooperative ownership and profit-sharing.
Technology, Transparency, and Member-Centric Governance
Marking the International Year of Cooperatives, Shri Shah urged all cooperative leaders to adopt three pillars for success:
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Transparency in operations.
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Technology acceptance to survive competition.
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Member-centric policies, keeping cooperative beneficiaries at the core.
“Wherever technology or transparency lacked, cooperative institutions failed. It is time to make these values a working culture,” he asserted.
A Tribute to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee
On the occasion, Shri Shah also paid homage to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary, recalling his sacrifices for Kashmir and efforts that led to the integration of West Bengal. Calling him a patriot and visionary, Shah reaffirmed that India’s unity and cooperative strength go hand in hand.
Conclusion: A Cooperative Revolution in the Making
The celebrations in Anand were not just a ceremonial milestone but a declaration of a new cooperative revolution—one where economic empowerment, inclusive development, and rural prosperity are driven by the people, for the people. With visionary projects, a policy-first approach, and a clear roadmap to elevate India’s cooperatives to global standards, Shri Amit Shah’s message echoed loud and clear:
“Not the individual, but the society must prosper. Not the few, but the many must benefit.”
For more details, check press release on PIB website.
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