‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’: Chief Minister chairs a one-day workshop of cooperative leaders in Gandhinagar

Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership, India will showcase the cooperative sector as a global model and advance the nation through ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’: CM.

Leaders of District Central Cooperative Banks, Milk Producers’ Cooperative Unions, Kheti Bank, GUJCOMASOL, and other cooperative institutions participate in the workshop.

Chief Minister:-

• The cooperative sector is key to inclusive development and strengthening the rural economy.

• The National Cooperation Policy–2025 aims to increase its contribution to the GDP by three times by the year 2034

• Gujarat, once a leader in the Non-Cooperation Movement, now leads the cooperative sector through Sahkar Se Samriddhi under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah.

Legislative Assembly Speaker Shri Shankar Chaudhary:-

• Since Independence, cooperation has been the spirit of India.

• Gujarat, through innovative initiatives in the cooperative sector, has set a new dimension for the nation’s cooperative model.

Minister of State for Cooperation, Shri Jagdish Vishwakarma

• Led by the Prime Minister and Union Cooperation Minister, the Ministry of Cooperation has launched several effective initiatives in a short period • To ensure uniformity in cooperative tasks, model bylaws have been framed for PACS.

Gandhinagar, 20 August 2025: Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel stated that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership, India will showcase the cooperative sector as a global model and remain at the forefront in the future.

2025 is being celebrated as the International Year of Cooperatives with the theme “Co-operatives Build the Better World.” As part of this, a one-day workshop on ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ was organised in Gandhinagar for leaders of District Central Cooperative Banks, Milk Producers’ Cooperative Societies, Agriculture Banks, and GUJCOMASOL.

Addressing the workshop, the Chief Minister said that just as Gujarat led the Non-Cooperation Movement under Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, it now leads the cooperative sector under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, advancing the vision of ‘Vocal for Local’ through ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi.’

He stated that the cooperative sector is vital for inclusive development and rural strength. Primary Cooperative Societies provide a key platform for Atmanirbharta through indigenous efforts. CM added.

In this context, CM said that the Prime Minister has transformed Atmanirbhar Bharat into a collective resolve and a people’s movement of 140 crore Indians. To strengthen Atmanirbharta, we must promote Vocal for Local and Local for Global by purchasing products made by cooperatives and self-help groups.

Highlighting the potential for PACS to grow into local corporate entities with support from cooperative leaders, he added that under the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, India has established its first independent Ministry of Cooperation since Independence.

Additionally, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of inclusive development, Union Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah recently announced the New Cooperation Policy–2025.

Presenting the features of this policy, the Chief Minister said that the policy seeks to engage every citizen in the cooperative movement, with the goals of contributing three times to its GDP by 2034, increasing cooperative institutions by 30%, and establishing at least one cooperative society in every Gram Panchayat.

Chief Minister said that this year marks the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, who, with the support of Tribhuvandas Patel, developed the framework of cooperation. Recalling this, he praised the Prime Minister’s visionary initiative of establishing the Tribhuvan Cooperative University to provide trained manpower for the cooperative sector.

CM stated that while the Prime Minister has given the resolve of Viksit Bharat 2047, for Gujarat, the year 2035 will also mark 75 years of the state’s formation. He added that both occasions present opportunities for Gujarat’s cooperative sector to advance Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local, thereby contributing to building a Viksit Gujarat for a Viksit Bharat.

Chief Minister, outlining short- and long-term goals for the holistic development of the cooperative sector, inspired its leaders on this occasion to fulfil the vision of Sahkar Se Samriddhi.

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Shri Raghavji Patel, Forest and Environment Minister Shri Mulubhai Bera, and Minister of State for Forest and Environment Shri Mukesh Patel were also present for the workshop.
 
On the occasion, Legislative Assembly Speaker and Banas Dairy Chairman Shri Shankar Chaudhary said that, since Independence, cooperation has been India’s spirit. Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, a dedicated ministry has launched several new initiatives, with leaders working selflessly to strengthen the sector. Several leaders in Gujarat and India have devoted their lives to cooperative development and deserve recognition.

He further said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, took key welfare decisions to safeguard Gujarat’s cooperative framework. He said that under Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and Cooperation Minister Shri Jagdish Vishwakarma, Gujarat has launched innovative initiatives, setting a new direction for the nation’s cooperative model. He also noted that the spirit of cooperation has long existed. A year ago, farmers who harvested their crops shared their portion with other villagers who supported them in return.

He noted that Gandhiji introduced the idea of Gram Swaraj before Independence, and Gujarat’s cooperative movement was initiated under the leadership of Tribhuvandas Patel. He further said that the Prime Minister, during his tenure as Chief Minister, consistently stressed the need for regular elections in the cooperative sector to foster institutional growth and new opportunities.

Cooperation Minister Shri Jagdish Vishwakarma said that 75 years after Independence, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi established a separate Ministry of Cooperation to revitalise the movement. He added that under the Prime Minister’s leadership and Union Minister Shri Amit Shah’s guidance, the Ministry has launched several impactful initiatives in a short time.

He further said that India today has over 8 lakh cooperative societies with more than 30 crore members, including over 89,000 societies with 1.8 crore members in Gujarat. He added that of the 1.8 lakh registered PACS in the country, more than 10,000 are active in Gujarat. To ensure uniformity in cooperative functioning, ‘Model bylaws’ have also been prepared for PACS.

Cooperation Minister said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi envisions prosperity for every farmer, and under Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel’s leadership, Gujarat has pioneered the ‘Cooperation Among Cooperatives Movement,’ with the dairy industry playing a key role in rural development. He added that sustained efforts in the cooperative sector have greatly enhanced public confidence in banks.

Chairman of Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Shri Ajay Patel, said that Gujarat has pioneered digitisation in the cooperative sector by introducing micro-ATM facilities in most of its 18,000 villages, enabling dairy farmers to access their payments. He added that micro-ATMs act as mini-banks and that leaders from several states are visiting Gujarat to study its cooperative model.

Shri Sandeep Kumar, Secretary, Cooperation Department, in his welcome address, stated that Gujarat holds a leading role in the nation’s cooperative sector, with thousands of institutions contributing across agriculture, dairy, banking, marketing, credit, housing, and cottage industries.

On this occasion, the Director of Sugar, Shri Sunil Chaudhary, gave a detailed presentation on various initiatives of the Central and State Governments.

The event was attended by Gandhinagar Mayor Smt. Miraben Patel, MLAs, IFFCO Chairman Shri Dileep Sanghani, GCMMF Chairman Shri Ashok Chaudhary, along with chairpersons, board members, and office-bearers of various cooperative societies and banks, in large numbers.
 
Source: Information Department, Gujarat