Amit Shah Tells UN: Indian Cooperatives Driving Innovation, Self-Reliance in Key Sectors
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United Nations, July 29 (TheTrendingPeople.com) – Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Monday spotlighted India’s cooperative movement as a transformative force now reaching beyond traditional boundaries into areas like digital innovation, healthcare, education, finance, and organic farming. Speaking at a United Nations event to mark the International Year of Cooperatives, Shah said Indian cooperatives were emerging as models for inclusive, sustainable development and economic resilience.
“Technological innovation is making cooperatives more inclusive today. When we speak of sustainable development, cooperatives are emerging as an effective medium to embody the core principles of the circular economy,” Shah said in a message to the event.
The high-level UN event, themed “Cooperatives and Sustainable Development: Keeping the Momentum and Exploring New Pathways,” was co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of India, Mongolia, and Kenya. It aimed to emphasize how cooperatives contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
From Grassroots to Global: India’s Cooperative Transformation
According to Shah, India’s cooperative sector has evolved from traditional rural and agrarian roles to becoming key players in digital transformation and self-reliance initiatives, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“In India, cooperatives have now gone beyond their traditional boundaries and have become a medium for innovation and self-reliance,” Shah said.
He cited major sectors where cooperatives are now actively innovating:
- Digital services and finance
- Healthcare delivery systems
- Sustainable energy
- Education
- Organic agriculture
- Financial inclusion and rural credit
The shift marks a paradigm change in how cooperatives are viewed—not merely as traditional institutions for community welfare but as scalable engines of national development.
“Sahkar Se Samriddhi”: A National Mantra
Reiterating Prime Minister Modi’s guiding slogan “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation), Shah said cooperation is deeply rooted in Indian cultural values, particularly in ancient Sanskrit texts, and remains integral to India’s national identity and governance model.
“For thousands of years, cooperation has been the soul of Indian values. Now, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, it has become a people’s movement,” he added.
Mega Grain Storage Programme Through Cooperatives
Shah also revealed that India is developing the world’s largest grain storage programme, to be executed through cooperative networks. The ambitious plan aims to:
- Strengthen national food security
- Ensure organised agriculture markets
- Provide fair prices to farmers
- Minimize post-harvest losses
The storage plan is seen as a strategic move to modernize India’s agri-supply chain and buffer stock capacity using the grassroots strength of the cooperative sector.
Connecting Farmers to Global Markets
To further integrate Indian farmers into the global economy, Shah said the government has launched three multi-state cooperative societies:
- Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) – focuses on high-quality seed development
- National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) – promotes organic produce and practices
- National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) – facilitates direct farmer-to-global market linkages
These bodies are expected to eliminate middlemen, enhance transparency in agri-export revenues, and ensure equitable profit distribution among farmers.
India’s UN Envoy: Cooperation Rooted in Culture and History
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P. Harish, emphasized the long history and cultural foundations of India’s cooperative movement.
“Imbued with the spirit of cooperation rooted in ancient Sanskrit texts, India’s cooperatives have played a vital role for over a century in the country’s growth and social upliftment,” he said.
Global Voices Applaud Cooperative Role in Sustainability
Kenya’s Permanent Representative Ekitela Lokaale spoke on the importance of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) in facilitating financial access, especially in underserved areas.
“Cooperatives are now exploring new avenues toward sustainable development,” he said, noting their contribution to profitable agriculture and market linkages.
Mongolia’s UN Ambassador N. Ankhbayar highlighted the importance of global collaboration in strengthening cooperative models and shared successful local initiatives from his country.
Background: UN Declares 2025 International Year of Cooperatives
The UN General Assembly in 2024 proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives to underscore their role in addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The initiative encourages member states to share best practices, promote cooperative-led development, and leverage community-based economies.
This year’s focus is on:
- Sustainable agriculture and food systems
- Inclusive digital access
- Empowerment of women and youth through cooperatives
- Climate-resilient community development
TheTrendingPeople.com Final Take
India’s presentation at the UN isn’t just a policy pitch—it’s a blueprint of how cooperatives can power inclusive growth. From digitizing rural finance to making organic farming a global export story, India’s cooperative model is being repositioned from the grassroots to the global stage.
With the support of government schemes, digital infrastructure, and farmer participation, India is aiming to redefine cooperatives as the future of decentralized, equitable economies.
As the world faces increasing inequality and climate challenges, India’s cooperative success story offers a replicable, resilient, and human-centric development model. It’s not just about building systems—it’s about building communities that own and lead their own future.