Gandhinagar, February 16: A high-level meeting of cooperative ministers from states and union territories across the country is set to take place on February 17 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Officials announced on Sunday that the meeting will review key reforms and expansion plans in the cooperative sector, including a proposal to establish two lakh new cooperative societies nationwide.
The ‘Manthan Meeting’ will be chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Center. Various state cooperative ministers, additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, and senior officials at the secretary level will participate.
According to officials, the meeting will assess the progress of major initiatives from the Ministry of Cooperation and discuss a coordinated roadmap for the sector. This platform will also provide states and union territories an opportunity to share their experiences and best practices.
The main agenda includes plans for establishing two lakh new Multi-Purpose Agricultural Credit Societies (MPACs), dairy, and fishery cooperatives. The aim is to strengthen the rural credit system and improve service delivery in agriculture and related sectors.
Additionally, the meeting will review the expansion of a national network of modern warehouses under the grain storage initiative. Discussions will focus on increasing storage capacity, ensuring price stability, and providing better market access for farmers.
Participation from states in three newly formed national cooperative entities—National Cooperative Exports Limited, National Cooperative Organics Limited, and Indian Seed Cooperative Society Limited—will also be considered. These entities aim to promote exports, encourage organic farming, and streamline the supply of quality seeds.
Moreover, issues such as amending state cooperative laws in line with the 97th Constitutional Amendment, measures to improve the financial health of cooperative sugar mills, and promoting sustainable development in the dairy sector with the help of the National Dairy Development Board will be discussed.
The agenda also includes promoting pulses and maize production, addressing challenges faced by cooperative banks, strengthening shared service units and umbrella structures, expanding membership and awareness campaigns, and enhancing media outreach.
Additionally, the meeting will review the computerization of primary agricultural credit societies and cooperative registrars’ offices, the use of a national cooperative database, human resource development, and the implementation of plans by the National Cooperative Development Corporation to ensure better coordination between the center and states.
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