Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired the second meeting of Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Cooperation in the national capital, where he reviewed Centre’s efforts to strengthen India’s cooperative ecosystem. Speaking at the meeting, Shah stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, ministry is working with a mission to transform cooperatives into dynamic and profitable business units across the country.
He revealed that out of targeted two lakh multipurpose cooperative societies to be established within five years; 35,395 new cooperatives have already been formed. These include 6,182 Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (MPACS), 27,562 dairy cooperatives, and 1,651 fisheries cooperative societies.
Shah highlighted cooperative model’s potential to empower landless farmers and rural communities. He informed the committee about the formation of three new national-level cooperative bodies: National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) for marketing organic produce, National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) to facilitate the export of farmers’ products, and Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) for the conservation and production of traditional seeds. “These institutions will ensure better branding, fair pricing, and direct access to global markets for farmers,” he said.
Home Minister also urged committee members to take proactive steps to strengthen dairy sector in their respective states through cooperative models. He noted that more than 100 initiatives have been launched over the past four years to enhance PACS, dairy and fisheries cooperatives, sugar mills, cooperative banks, and governance systems, including digital reforms and financial support.
The meeting also reviewed progress on National Cooperative Policy 2025, which aims to align cooperative sector with flagship government schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and National Dairy Development Program. Under the cooperative-led White Revolution 2.0, efforts are underway to increase milk procurement by 50% over the next five years.
So far, 15,691 new dairy cooperative societies have been registered, and 11,871 existing ones have been strengthened. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between the National Dairy Development Board and 25 milk unions across 15 states to set up biogas plants in dairy cooperatives.
The Ministry also highlighted the establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University, which has been declared an institution of national importance through an Act of Parliament. The university will provide standardized education and skilled human resources for the cooperative sector.
The session concluded with committee members sharing suggestions to further enhance the cooperative ecosystem. The meeting was attended by Union Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal and Murlidhar Mohol, Members of the Committee, the Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation, and senior officials.
