Image Source: @AmitShah/X

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah marked the fourth anniversary of the Ministry of Cooperation with a sweeping set of dairy and cooperative initiatives worth over Rs 400 crore, reinforcing the Centre’s renewed emphasis on cooperative-led development and member-first governance.

In a virtual address from Anand — India’s dairy capital — Shah inaugurated the Rs 105 crore expansion of Amul’s chocolate plant at the Tribhuvandas Food Complex in Mogar and the Rs 260 crore Dr. Verghese Kurien Cheese Plant in Khatraj. He also unveiled the Ready-to-Use Culture (RUC) facility developed by NDDB at a cost of Rs 45 crore, inaugurated the Maniben Patel Bhawan, the new headquarters of the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI), and laid the foundation stone for a new NDDB office complex.

The commemorations coincided with the 150th birth anniversary year of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, underscoring Gujarat’s enduring role in India’s cooperative and nation-building journey. The day also marked the birth anniversary of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, whom Shah credited with securing Jammu & Kashmir’s integration into the Indian Union.

Reflecting on four years since the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021, Shah called it a structural reform to India’s deeply rooted cooperative ethos. “With over 8.4 lakh cooperative societies linked to 31 crore people, the movement is no longer limited to credit or dairy — it now encompasses banking, sugar, housing, and even digital payments,” he said.

Shah outlined more than 60 key reforms under five pillars — People, PACS, Platform, Policy, and Prosperity — and urged that prosperity must be democratized. “It should not remain confined to the rich. The 56 lakh women in dairy cooperatives, who are poised to generate Rs 1 lakh crore in collective turnover, must also share in the nation’s growth story,” he added.

In a forward-looking move, Shah announced the launch of the Kutch District Salt Cooperative Society, designed as a transformative model for salt workers, mirroring Amul’s success in the dairy sector.

Stressing the importance of transparency, digitalisation, and member-centric governance, Shah warned, “Where there is no transparency or use of technology, cooperation cannot thrive. The interest of members must always come first.” He urged all stakeholders to embed these principles into their daily operations — especially as the world celebrates the International Year of Cooperatives.

By blending legacy with reform, the Ministry of Cooperation is scripting a new chapter for India’s cooperative economy — one that is inclusive, tech-driven, and rooted in grassroots empowerment.