Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate projects exceeding Rs 250 crore for cooperative institutions and Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) during a national-level “Manthan Baithak” on February 17 in Gandhinagar. The event will witness the participation of cooperation ministers from various States and Union Territories, alongside senior secretaries-level officials.
Gujarat Cooperation Minister Jitu Vaghani highlighted that the launch of projects valued at more than Rs 250 crore will be a significant aspect of the gathering. The inaugural session will see the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
Union Ministers of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal and Murlidhar Mohol are also slated to attend the conference. The Manthan Baithak will focus on deliberations regarding the establishment of 2 lakh new multipurpose primary agricultural credit societies (MPACS) and dairy and fisheries cooperatives nationwide.
Discussions will encompass the construction of modern warehouses under a nationwide grain storage initiative, the financial strengthening of cooperative sugar mills, challenges encountered by cooperative banks, the development of a National Cooperative Database, and the computerization of institutions. The event will also witness the release of a special report on best practices adopted by various states and on the International Year of Cooperatives-2025.
Initiatives by the Ministry of Cooperation and transformative measures implemented in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh will be presented. Gujarat will showcase its “Cooperation Among the Cooperatives” initiative during the second session, highlighting the opening of 33 lakh new bank accounts, issuance of RuPay debit cards to 19 lakh livestock rearers, linking 22 lakh farmers to Kisan Credit Cards, and facilitating around 22 lakh digital transactions monthly through 12,624 micro ATMs.
An exhibition featuring over 20 leading cooperative institutions, including NDDB, NFDB, NCDC, IFFCO, NCEL, NCOL, BBSSL, Amul (GCMMF), Banas Dairy, Gujcomasol, and Gujarat State Co-operative Bank, will also be inaugurated at the venue ahead of the conference.
