Prime Minister Narendra Modi is completing 25 years in public service, a journey defined by the mantra of Jan Seva Se Desh Seva, and a relentless commitment that continues. Guided by this vision for Seva and Sushasan, the Government has been ceaselessly working towards achieving the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Through inclusive development and social empowerment, this dedication is transforming lives. Today, in our special series, we bring you an instance of how this vision has been translated into action through the Ministry of Cooperation.
India’s cooperative sector includes more than 8.5 lakh registered societies with over 32 crore members, covering credit, dairy, sugar, fisheries, housing and marketing, and covering nearly 98% of rural India. Until 2021, it had no dedicated ministry. Responsibility sat with the Ministry of Agriculture, divided across departments and states, and most primary societies still kept their records on paper. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Ministry of Cooperation was created in July 2021, the first of its kind in India. It has built a National Cooperative Database to record what actually exists, brought in a framework for multi-state co-operative societies and funded the computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies. It also linked cooperative banking to the direct benefit transfer system. Addressing the Global Cooperative Conference 2024 in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the vision of Sahkar Se Samriddhi and said that it is paving the way for the prosperity of millions of villages, women, and farmers.
Bharat Taxi is also an important initiative of the Ministry of Cooperation. It is a driver-centric mobility platform based on the cooperative model. It aims to economically empower drivers while offering affordable, safe, and reliable transport services to the public. Sharing his positive experiences after joining Bharat Taxi, A driver named Rajiv Kumar called upon all fellow drivers to adopt Bharat Taxi and take forward this mission of Prosperity through Cooperation.
In five years, the Ministry of Cooperation has transformed cooperatives into engines of inclusive growth. As India advances on its path of inclusive and sustainable development, cooperatives will continue to foster equitable growth and resilience.
