Amit Shah Chairs Parliamentary Consultative Committee Meeting on Strengthening Cooperative Societies

The meeting focused on the theme, "Initiatives Taken and Currently Being Implemented to Strengthen Cooperative Societies."

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, chaired the inaugural meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Cooperation in New Delhi. The meeting focused on the theme, "Initiatives Taken and Currently Being Implemented to Strengthen Cooperative Societies."

The session was attended by Union Ministers of State for Cooperation, Shri Krishan Pal and Shri Murlidhar Mohol, alongside committee members, the Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation, and senior ministry officials. The committee reviewed the progress of various initiatives undertaken since the Ministry's inception and deliberated on future strategies to empower cooperative societies across India.

Key Highlights from the Meeting:

1. Foundation and Vision: Shri Amit Shah emphasized that the Ministry of Cooperation was established by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to promote the welfare of farmers and rural communities, encapsulated in the vision "Sahkar Se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through Cooperation). He reiterated that the government believes cooperation is pivotal for employment generation and rural prosperity.

2. Revitalizing the Cooperative Movement: Shri Shah noted that while the cooperative movement was robust post-independence, it weakened in many states over time. The Ministry's first major task was the creation of a comprehensive database of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in collaboration with state governments. The registration process for two lakh PACS is underway, and the National Cooperative Database—nearing completion—offers one-click access to information about cooperative societies categorized by region.

3. Digital Transformation and Expansion of PACS: The Minister highlighted ongoing efforts to computerize PACS and stated that in the near future, every panchayat in the country would have access to a PACS. The adoption of model by-laws by almost all states has made PACS more viable. These societies are now engaged in over 20 activities, including providing services such as Common Service Centres, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and more.

4. Establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University: Shri Shah announced the introduction of a bill in Parliament for the establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University. Once passed, the university will offer specialized education in technical fields, accounting, administration, and cooperative management, ensuring a steady supply of trained professionals for the cooperative sector.

5. National-Level Cooperative Organizations: The Ministry has facilitated the creation of organizations like National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), and Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samriti Limited (BBSSL). These entities will promote exports, organic products, and advanced seed technologies within the cooperative framework, driving significant sectoral growth.

6. Equal Opportunities for Cooperatives: Shri Shah stressed the government's commitment to ensuring that cooperative enterprises have equal opportunities as corporate entities. In collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Reserve Bank of India, and Income Tax Department, steps are being taken to establish a unified tax structure for both sectors. The Minister expressed confidence that cooperative enterprises will thrive alongside corporate counterparts, fulfilling Prime Minister Modi's vision of "Sahkar Se Samriddhi."

7. Strategic Roadmap for National Federations: A roadmap has been developed to accelerate the growth of national federations, in partnership with key organizations such as Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Shri Shah highlighted that PACS are currently involved in booking railway tickets and will soon expand to selling airline tickets, reflecting their growing role in service provision.

8. Addressing Regional Disparities: Recognizing regional imbalances in cooperative development, Shri Shah assured that the government is implementing targeted measures to achieve uniform growth across all states.

Committee Feedback and Conclusion:

Committee members offered valuable suggestions for further empowering cooperative societies and lauded the government’s proactive measures to strengthen the cooperative movement. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue building a robust cooperative ecosystem that drives rural prosperity and national development.