Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, will on Monday chair the ‘Manthan Baithak’ at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi.
The meeting, organised by the Ministry of Cooperation, will bring together Cooperation Ministers, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and senior officials from the Cooperation Departments of all States and Union Territories.
The primary aim of the Manthan Baithak is to assess the implementation of key cooperative initiatives and to chart a forward-looking roadmap.
It will also serve as a platform for the exchange of best practices, aimed at fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).
Focus on expanding rural reach
One of the central themes of the meeting is the nationwide plan to establish two lakh new Multi-purpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
In addition, the expansion of cooperative societies in the dairy and fisheries sectors is high on the agenda.
These initiatives are designed to strengthen last-mile service delivery in rural areas, empowering farmers, fishers, and local entrepreneurs.
The Manthan Baithak will also assess the progress of the World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme within the cooperative sector.
The government expects this ambitious scheme to significantly bolster agricultural infrastructure and improve food security by enabling efficient grain storage solutions at the grassroots level.
Discussions will include the roles of State governments in supporting the three newly formed National Multi-State Cooperative Societies—National Cooperative Export Ltd (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL), and Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Ltd (BBSSL).
These bodies aim to increase India’s presence in global markets while promoting organic farming and the distribution of indigenous seeds.
Campaigns & international engagement
States and Union Territories will also present updates on the ‘Cooperation Among Cooperatives’ campaign and share plans for engaging in the upcoming International Year of Cooperatives 2025.
The Ministry of Cooperation has encouraged broader participation and alignment with global cooperative movements.
In a press release, the Ministry stated, “This Manthan Baithak will act as a catalyst in highlighting the critical role of States/UTs in transforming state-level cooperatives into vibrant economic entities, through close collaboration between Centre and States, with the spirit of cooperative federalism.”
The meeting underscores the Centre’s commitment to a robust, decentralised cooperative ecosystem aimed at inclusive development and rural prosperity.
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