Is a Strong Cooperative Structure Vital for National Progress?

Ahmedabad, May 18 (NationPress) Union Home Minister and Gandhinagar Member of Parliament Amit Shah spoke at the Gujarat State Cooperative Union's Summit in Ahmedabad on Sunday, where he underscored the critical importance of cooperation in India's developmental path.

He emphasized the significance of both the 'science of cooperation' and the 'science in cooperation', asserting that cooperative synergy is vital for the sector's advancement.

HM Shah asserted that collaboration among cooperatives—be it in dairy, banking, housing, or agriculture—is essential for mutual growth. He stated, “To evolve into a developed nation, a robust cooperative framework plays a pivotal role in national progress, and India should adopt modern practices within its cooperative architecture.”

In his address, the Home Minister noted that innovations and technological progress in the cooperative sector will only hold value when they reach the grassroots level, especially the farmers. "Unless these innovations directly benefit farmers, they cannot be deemed effectively impactful," he remarked.

Shah also advocated for enhanced transparency among cooperative entities to foster accountability and build trust among stakeholders. He stated that transparency is not a luxury but a necessity for the cooperative model to thrive and succeed.

Pointing to Gujarat as a testing ground for innovative cooperative initiatives, HM Shah revealed that cooperatives in the region are being empowered to produce machinery and equipment for dairy products like ice cream, paneer, and cheese. “Machines and equipment for ice cream, cheese, paneer—everything will be produced by cooperatives. We are currently attempting this in Gujarat,” he shared, reflecting the government's commitment to self-reliance through local production ecosystems.

The Union Minister further discussed the necessity of interlinking various sectors within the cooperative framework. He stressed that dairy cooperatives should collaborate with cooperative banks, and cooperative housing societies must engage with other cooperative entities. This integrated approach, he argued, would lead to collective success and sustainable growth.

Amit Shah also inaugurated and laid the foundation for numerous development projects across Gandhinagar city and district, amounting to over Rs 708 crore. The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation led the initiative with the inauguration of civic and infrastructure projects worth Rs 200.94 crore, while new projects worth Rs 352.76 crore had their foundation stones laid.

The Gandhinagar District Administration contributed projects worth Rs 45.70 crore, and the Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA) initiated additional works valued at Rs 107.85 crore. Among the significant projects inaugurated were RCC and CC roads in the villages of Basan, Palaj, and Por, totaling Rs 8.91 crore. Primary Health Centres were inaugurated at Vavol and Pethapur for Rs 5.43 crore, and landscaping along the CH-0 to GH-0 corridor was completed for Rs 4.68 crore.

The comprehensive development package also included the installation of sewerage and drainage pipelines in areas such as Borij and Kolavada, town planning development works worth Rs 75.08 crore, and the establishment of a Rs 30.97 crore sewage treatment plant at Bhat. Additionally, a new road underpass between Sectors 21 and 22 was initiated, with an investment of Rs 16.45 crore.