Centre Charts Cooperative Growth Path in Shillong Meet
ECONOMY & POLICY

Centre Charts Cooperative Growth Path in Shillong Meet

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.

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.

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

BMW Industries partners with IOCL for PNG supply at Bokaro plant

BMW Industries has entered into a strategic partnership with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) for the supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG), reinforcing its commitment to adopting cleaner and more efficient energy sources for its operations.The agreement was signed at the Eastern Region Pipelines (ERPL) headquarters in Kolkata. The partnership is expected to support the company’s upcoming manufacturing facility in Bokaro by facilitating the use of natural gas as a primary energy source.According to the company, the adoption of PNG will help enhance operational efficiency while also contributing to ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Bombay Realty Secures RERA for Three ICC Tower in South Mumbai

Bombay Realty, the real estate arm of Bombay Dyeing and part of the Wadia Group, has received Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) certification for Three ICC – Wing A, the latest luxury residential tower at Island City Center in Mumbai’s Dadar.The RERA registration marks a key milestone in the development timeline and reinforces the company’s focus on regulatory transparency, timely project delivery, and high construction standards.Following the success of One ICC and Two ICC, the upcoming Three ICC tower represents the next phase of the Island City Center development. The project ai..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Flender launches India’s largest wind gearbox test rig in Walajabad

Flender has inaugurated a 13.5 MW wind turbine gearbox test rig at its Walajabad facility near Chennai, marking the largest installation of its kind in India. The new facility is expected to strengthen the company’s manufacturing and testing capabilities while supporting the growing demands of the wind power sector in both domestic and global markets.The test rig was inaugurated on March 5 in the presence of Andreas Evertz, Group CEO, Flender; Lars Wiegemann, Vice President Wind Gears, Flender; and Vinod Shetty, CEO, Flender India, along with key industry customers and stakeholders.The insta..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement