Amit Shah Announces 60 New Initiatives for Cooperatives in Three Years
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, announced that the Ministry of Cooperation has introduced nearly 60 new initiatives in the past three years. Speaking at a National Conference in New Delhi, Shah highlighted that 10 of these initiatives were launched in the last 100 days and will significantly contribute to making the cooperative sector more comprehensive.
Strengthening the Rural Economy
Shah emphasized that the Modi government is accelerating the rural economy through cooperatives. He stated, “When the Ministry of Cooperation was established, its aim was to revive cooperatives in every district and village across the country, modernize their laws and culture to fit the times, and shape them into a new framework.”
Key Initiatives
The Ministry of Cooperation was established by transferring existing entries related to cooperation and cooperatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare in July 2021. Shah highlighted several key initiatives:
- Linking services like affordable food shops, low-cost medicine shops, petrol pumps, LPG gas cylinder distribution, and water supply systems with Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
- Establishing two lakh PACS in every panchayat to strengthen the three-tier cooperative structure.
- Launching ‘White Revolution 2.0’ to boost women’s employment through dairy income.
Financial Inclusion
Shah also mentioned the government’s efforts to open bank accounts for people involved in cooperative activities and provide debit and credit cards to women associated with primary cooperative societies. In Gujarat’s Panchmahal and Banaskantha districts, over 400,000 new bank accounts were opened, and more than Rs 500 crore was deposited. Additionally, 1,732 micro ATMs were established, and 20,000 new credit cards were issued, leading to approximately 24 lakh digital transactions.
“So far, across the state, over 900,000 accounts have been opened, and deposits in cooperative banks have increased by around Rs 4,000 crore. Now, we need to take this initiative to the national level,” Shah added.
Doubts Revealed
Amit Shah -: Amit Shah is a senior leader in the Indian government. He is the Union Home Minister, which means he is responsible for the country’s internal security and law enforcement.
Ministry of Cooperation -: The Ministry of Cooperation is a part of the Indian government that focuses on helping cooperative societies. These societies are groups of people who work together to achieve common goals, like farmers working together to sell their crops.
National Conference -: A National Conference is a big meeting where important people discuss important topics. In this case, it was held in New Delhi, the capital of India.
rural economy -: The rural economy refers to the economic activities that happen in villages and countryside areas. This includes farming, animal husbandry, and small-scale industries.
cooperatives -: Cooperatives are groups of people who come together to work for a common goal. For example, farmers might form a cooperative to sell their products together and get better prices.
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) -: PACS are local organizations that provide financial help to farmers. They give loans and other services to help farmers buy seeds, fertilizers, and other things they need.
White Revolution 2.0 -: White Revolution 2.0 is a new effort to increase milk production in India. It aims to help women get jobs and earn money by working in the dairy industry.