5 days ago
Amit Shah unveils National Cooperation Policy 2025
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah unveiled the National Cooperation Policy 2025 on Thursday (July 24, 2025), aiming to connect 50 crore people with the cooperative sector.
Dalits, Adivasis and women are at the core of the new cooperative policy, Mr. Shah said. This is only the second such policy for the sector since Independence, with the first being introduced in 2002 by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government.
Expressing confidence that India will become the third largest economy by 2027, the Minister emphasised the need for the inclusive development of 130 crore people, noting that it is the cooperative sector that has the potential to change the lives of people.
'Only way to achieve aspirations'
'The 80 crore people who have got cylinders, houses by the government are wondering what to do next? Many people got electricity for the first time, they have a vaccum in their life, now they aspire for an iron [for clothes] or a Scooty... but they don't have the capital. Only the cooperative sector can help them in achieving their aspirations,' Mr. Shah said.
The Minister said that the policy defines six pillars to achieve the set goals for the cooperative sector: strengthening the foundation, promoting vibrancy, preparing cooperative societies for the future, enhancing inclusivity and expanding reach, expanding into new sectors, and preparing the younger generation for cooperative development.
The Ministry of Cooperation has prepared a detailed plan for sectors like tourism, taxi services, insurance, and green energy, Mr. Shah said, adding that a start will be made in the taxi and insurance sectors in a very short time. The profits generated through these units will ultimately reach the members of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) at the rural level. He emphasised that the goal is to build a large and robust cooperative ecosystem and firmly establish the belief that cooperation can be a vital instrument for the country's development for future generations.
