Centre Charts Cooperative Growth Path in Shillong Meet

15 Apr 2025 CW Team

Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Bhutani emphasized the Centre’s renewed push towards “Sahakar Se Samriddhi,” echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and Union Minister Amit Shah’s guidance for cooperative-led economic growth. He urged states to expedite the collation of PAN numbers of all cooperative societies, enabling accurate inclusion of the sector in GDP calculations.

White Revolution 2.0: Empowering Rural India Dr. Bhutani highlighted White Revolution 2.0 as a flagship initiative for rural upliftment through dairy development. He stated that institutions like Amul and NDDB are working closely with states such as Assam, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh to expand dairy infrastructure. "The economic potential of animal husbandry now exceeds that of traditional crops," he noted, emphasizing its role in empowering women and improving child nutrition.

Tribhuvan Sahkari University: A National Milestone Terming it a historic step, the Secretary announced the passage of the bill to establish India’s first Tribhuvan Sahkari University, aimed at standardizing cooperative education across India. Over 250 existing cooperative institutions are expected to be uplifted by this initiative.

Green Initiatives and Strategic Dialogues A tree plantation drive under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative was also conducted during the session, in alignment with the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. Senior officials including the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya participated.

The forum brought together policymakers, cooperative federations, and representatives from across States and UTs, with national-level institutions like NAFED, NCCF, NCOL, NCEL, and BBSSL presenting strategies to foster innovation and inclusivity in the cooperative space.

Strengthening Rural Banking and PACS The meeting also focused on doorstep banking via micro-ATMs, zero-interest loans through RuPay Kisan Credit Cards for cooperative members, and digital transformation of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) and Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs). The establishment of Multi-Purpose Agriculture Cooperative Societies (MPACS), dairy and fishery cooperatives, and grain storage infrastructure were also reviewed.

Delegations from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand shared innovations and best practices, enriching the dialogue on modernizing cooperatives. A special session reviewed the strategic realignment of NCDC schemes with national development goals.

Looking Ahead Workshops on impact benchmarking, cooperative governance, and the Business Reform Action Plan 2025–26 laid the groundwork for long-term reforms. With emphasis on transparency, efficiency, and technology integration, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to making India’s cooperative sector a strong pillar of inclusive and sustainable development.

The Ministry of Cooperation, under the leadership of Secretary Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, convened a two-day National Level Review Meeting in Shillong to advance strategies aimed at transforming the cooperative sector. Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Bhutani emphasized the Centre’s renewed push towards “Sahakar Se Samriddhi,” echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and Union Minister Amit Shah’s guidance for cooperative-led economic growth. He urged states to expedite the collation of PAN numbers of all cooperative societies, enabling accurate inclusion of the sector in GDP calculations. White Revolution 2.0: Empowering Rural India Dr. Bhutani highlighted White Revolution 2.0 as a flagship initiative for rural upliftment through dairy development. He stated that institutions like Amul and NDDB are working closely with states such as Assam, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh to expand dairy infrastructure. The economic potential of animal husbandry now exceeds that of traditional crops, he noted, emphasizing its role in empowering women and improving child nutrition. Tribhuvan Sahkari University: A National Milestone Terming it a historic step, the Secretary announced the passage of the bill to establish India’s first Tribhuvan Sahkari University, aimed at standardizing cooperative education across India. Over 250 existing cooperative institutions are expected to be uplifted by this initiative. Green Initiatives and Strategic Dialogues A tree plantation drive under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative was also conducted during the session, in alignment with the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. Senior officials including the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya participated. The forum brought together policymakers, cooperative federations, and representatives from across States and UTs, with national-level institutions like NAFED, NCCF, NCOL, NCEL, and BBSSL presenting strategies to foster innovation and inclusivity in the cooperative space. Strengthening Rural Banking and PACS The meeting also focused on doorstep banking via micro-ATMs, zero-interest loans through RuPay Kisan Credit Cards for cooperative members, and digital transformation of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) and Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs). The establishment of Multi-Purpose Agriculture Cooperative Societies (MPACS), dairy and fishery cooperatives, and grain storage infrastructure were also reviewed. Delegations from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand shared innovations and best practices, enriching the dialogue on modernizing cooperatives. A special session reviewed the strategic realignment of NCDC schemes with national development goals. Looking Ahead Workshops on impact benchmarking, cooperative governance, and the Business Reform Action Plan 2025–26 laid the groundwork for long-term reforms. With emphasis on transparency, efficiency, and technology integration, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to making India’s cooperative sector a strong pillar of inclusive and sustainable development.

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