In a shrouded ribbon on previous governments led by Congress, the Minister of the Interior of the Union, AMIT Shah, stated on Sunday (April 13, 2025) that the cooperative movement remained in the ruins because the law was not improved for years and almost died before the government took decisive measures.
Shah focused on the conference on the state -level conference in Bhopal and said that former governments have never considered strengthening the cooperative sector.
On this occasion, an agreement was signed between the National Milk Development Council (NDDB) and Madhya Pradesh State Co-Operative Dairy Federation in order to increase milk production in the state.
“For years, the cooperative movement has moved slowly and turned almost dead. Looking at the cooperative movement across the country was uneven (in the past),” he said.
Shah stressed the challenges and said that the cooperative movement remained in the ruins because the laws were not adequately improved.
He said that the movement received a traction only after 75 years of independence, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi created the Ministry of Cooperatives to strengthen this industry.
Mr. Shah accused the previous central government for not raising the cooperative sector and said it had a result of growth.
“Positive Change”
“In some countries, the movement gained strength, while in some places it was destroyed. The main reason was that the laws that were to change over time were not improved,” Shah said, attributed PM modi for a “positive change” in the team.
Madhya Pradesh has many possibilities in agriculture, animal breeding and cooperative areas, Shah said, acknowledging the need to make more effort to use these possibilities.
“Madhya Pradesh now sees the good management of public affairs. The team was almost dead during the congress regime. It is a golden opportunity to revive them, and Madhya Pradesh should take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.
Given that cooperation is subject to the subject of the state under the constitutional arrangement, the initiative for cooperation laws that adapt to rapidly changing conditions across the country have not been adopted.
“This (scenario) was not considered at the national level from a holistic point of view, because there was no separate ministry for cooperatives,” he said.
“Model Statutes to be enacted”
Shah said that the center is working in a constitutional framework, he said that the Union’s government has adopted model statutes for cooperatives that are accepted by all states.
“By adopting these model statutes, which seizes primary societies, states have given new leases of the life of the cooperative in India,” he said, thanking the states.
Mr. Shah remembered how Pax (or PACS-Prime Agricultural Credit Company) worked in short-term financing of agriculture and gained only half a profit.
“The same Pax does more work that has increased their income. They sell drugs cheaper by joining Ayushman Bharat and also participating in water distribution, which makes more than 300 government programs accessible by joining CSC (common service centers).
Mr. Shah described the government of Madhya Pradesh for being the first in India to compose a pax.
The Minister of the Union stated that previously they can only participate in farmers only by large farmers. However, the government has now expanded the opportunity to produce seeds for farmers with land with land as small as two and a half acres.
He stressed that the preservation and promotion of seeds would be administered by a “cooperative of seeds”, which ensures that farmers receive fair prices for their production.
Shah said Madhya Pradesh produces 5.5 crore liters of milk, which represents nine% of the total milk production in the ground.
Using farmers in an open market
The Minister stressed that farmers are facing an open market when selling milk. “To solve it, it focuses on the government to encourage farmers to sell milk through cooperation and ensure that profits directly benefit them,” he said.
He expressed the certainty that the agreement between NDDB and MPSCDF would create a cooperative company in approximately 50% of Madhya Pradesh villages and provide fast benefits to farmers and grazers.
Shah said that less than one% of milk production Madhya Pradesh comes from cooperative dairies. Excess milk in the state is 3.5 liters of crore, of which only 2.5% are solved by a cooperative sector.
“Only 17% milk collection is possible in villages. However, an agreement signed on Sunday (April 13, 2025) is preparing a way to achieve 83% of villages in the state. In the next five years, the aim is to introduce primary milk production committees in at least 50% of villages,” he said.
He called for a rapid connection of every farmer with cooperative dairies to produce milk, cottage cheese and buttermilk.
Mr. Shah said that the Modi government “stands like a rock” in promoting the expansion of the cooperative sector.
“Through seeds, organic and export cooperatives, farmers receive fair prices for their products. These cooperatives provide farmers for access to the global market, and profits are directly deposited in their bank accounts. This is more important than merchants,” he added.
Published – April 13 2025 20:59 is
