Amit Shah pitches women-led cooperatives in Kerala, calls M. Liju to Delhi
Synopsis
Amit Shah's Kundara address was more than outreach — it was a pointed invitation to Kerala's Left-leaning cooperative infrastructure to plug into central frameworks. With 23,000-plus cooperatives already active, Shah's call for a Delhi meeting and his focus on fisheries and Vanitha She Marts signals the Centre's intent to draw Kerala's cooperative muscle into its national network.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah addressed the Sahkar Se Samriddhi programme at Kundara, Kollam on 26 September 2026 , championing women-led cooperatives.
Shah invited Kerala's Cooperation Minister M.
Liju to visit New Delhi to develop a joint plan for the state's cooperative sector.
More than 23,000 cooperative units are currently active in Kerala, according to Shah.
NCCF's Vanitha She Marts were highlighted as a key market-access platform for women entrepreneurs, with products sourced directly from farmers.
Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice are now available in Kerala; pulse seeds are being distributed to women under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.
Shah flagged Kerala's fisheries sector and the blue economy as priority areas for future cooperative expansion.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, 26 September 2026, called on Kerala's Cooperation Minister M. Liju to travel to New Delhi and chalk out a joint plan with the Centre to strengthen the state's cooperative sector, while championing women-led cooperatives as a critical engine of rural economic empowerment. Shah made the call while addressing a large women's cooperative gathering at Kundara in Kollam district.
Key Developments at the Kundara Event
The programme, titled Sahkar Se Samriddhi, drew a substantial gathering and was aimed at deepening women's participation in the cooperative movement. Shah opened with a light moment, saying, 'I don't know how to speak Malayalam, but I give all of you my respects,' before urging Kerala to leverage its cooperative tradition more ambitiously across agriculture, fisheries, and allied sectors.
Shah noted that more than 23,000 cooperative units are currently functional in Kerala, and called on the state to scale up in collaboration with central institutions. He also distributed scholarships to children attending the function.
What the Centre Has Proposed
Shah highlighted the expanding role of the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and NAFED in promoting women entrepreneurs. He said NCCF is broadening its retail footprint and that Vanitha She Marts would give women a direct, market-linked channel for their products, with produce sourced directly from farmers.
He also noted that Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice are now available in Kerala, and referred to schemes under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme that provide pulse seeds specifically to women. The Centre, he added, is prepared to help states design organic farming protocols and develop related initiatives.
Why the Cooperation Ministry Matters
Shah pointed out that the demand for a standalone Ministry of Cooperation had existed since Independence and was fulfilled only under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He argued that Kerala, with its deep-rooted cooperative culture, is particularly well-positioned to benefit from central schemes channelled through the ministry.
Broader measures highlighted for women included the opening of bank accounts, an extension of maternity leave to 26 weeks, and reforms concerning Muslim women and Haj — all cited as part of the Modi government's women-centric policy record.
Blue Economy and Fisheries on the Agenda
Turning to Kerala's extensive coastline, Shah identified fisheries as a high-potential frontier for cooperative expansion, calling the emerging blue economy a significant opportunity. He specifically asked Minister Liju to put fisheries sector integration on the agenda for the proposed Delhi meeting.
Dignitaries Present
The event was attended by Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi, State Tourism and Culture Minister P.C. Vishnunath, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and Kollam Lok Sabha member N.K. Premachandran. Shah had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday afternoon and flew by helicopter to Kollam for the Kundara programme, which was his first public engagement of the visit.
The proposed Delhi meeting between the Centre and Kerala's cooperation ministry is expected to shape the next phase of cooperative sector development in the state, with fisheries and women's entrepreneurship likely to anchor the discussions.
Point of View
But the real test will be whether Kerala's state government — ideologically at odds with the Centre on many fronts — actually sends Minister Liju to Delhi and agrees on a joint roadmap. The 23,000-cooperative figure underscores genuine scale, yet Centre-state cooperation in this domain has historically been uneven. If the Delhi meeting materialises and produces actionable frameworks, it could become a rare template for constructive federal partnership across political lines.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Amit Shah say at the Kundara cooperative event in Kerala?
Amit Shah addressed a women's cooperative gathering at Kundara in Kollam on 26 September 2026 under the 'Sahkar Se Samriddhi' programme, pitching women-led cooperatives as drivers of rural economic empowerment. He called on Kerala's Cooperation Minister M. Liju to visit New Delhi and jointly develop a plan to strengthen the state's cooperative sector.
What is the 'Sahkar Se Samriddhi' programme?
'Sahkar Se Samriddhi' is a central initiative aimed at strengthening women's participation in India's cooperative sector. The Kundara event in Kollam was part of this programme, focusing on empowering women through cooperative institutions and expanding market access via platforms such as Vanitha She Marts.
What role do NCCF and NAFED play in women's cooperative empowerment?
The National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and NAFED are being used by the Centre to promote women entrepreneurs through expanding retail networks and market linkages. Shah specifically highlighted Vanitha She Marts — outlets under the NCCF network — as a direct market channel for products made by women in cooperatives.
Why did Amit Shah mention Kerala's fisheries sector at the event?
Shah identified Kerala's extensive coastline and the emerging blue economy as a significant untapped frontier for cooperative expansion. He asked State Cooperation Minister M. Liju to include fisheries sector integration on the agenda for their proposed meeting in New Delhi.
How many cooperative units are currently active in Kerala?
According to Shah's address at Kundara, more than 23,000 cooperative units are currently functioning in Kerala. He cited this as evidence that the state has a strong foundation to build on through collaboration with central cooperative institutions.
