The Ministry of Cooperation organised the second regional conference on cooperative reforms in Aizawl, Mizoram, under the national vision of Sahkar se Samriddhi and the leadership of the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation. The event was the first regional cooperative reform conference in the state and formed part of a national series of workshops to strengthen grassroots cooperative institutions across the North-East.

Delegates from all North-Eastern states attended alongside officials from national cooperative institutions such as the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). States presented progress on Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, cooperative banking, grain storage, dairy and fisheries cooperatives and value-chain development for organic and indigenous products.

The Ministry said the North-East is a priority region owing to strengths in organic farming, horticulture, spices, fisheries, bamboo and forest produce and that cooperative models can enhance rural livelihoods and market access. The Secretary said a uniform model would be ineffective and called for state-specific solutions and adaptive guidelines. The Ministry added that it engages with states through monthly video conferences and periodic review meetings to improve coordination and address implementation challenges.

The Secretary outlined plans to support capacity building, including manpower and financial assistance for state cooperative banks and grassroots implementation. He said efforts are underway to standardise technology platforms across urban cooperative banks to reduce duplication and improve efficiency, noting that about 1,500 banks procure technology services independently. The Ministry indicated coordination with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other agencies to streamline storage and distribution, and that an ambitious grain storage plan is being pursued in mission mode.

Sessions on value chains, cyber security preparedness and cooperative banking reforms featured contributions from national cooperative institutions and state cooperative departments. A project has been sanctioned to North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi) to study revival of cooperatives in three North-Eastern states for replication, and the conference concluded with a collective commitment by Centre, states and cooperatives to strengthen cooperative-led development and support Viksit Bharat 2047.