“Prosperity through Cooperation” Conference Concludes
Strengthening the Cooperative Sector as a Professional and Business-Oriented Model Is Essential – Dr. Bhootani
Udaipur: A national-level conference organized by the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, in the Lake City of Udaipur concluded on Friday. The two-day conference focused on strengthening the cooperative sector and reviewed various initiatives under the theme **“Prosperity through Cooperation,”** along with deliberations on the future roadmap. A total of 12 sessions were held during the conference.
Addressing the concluding session, **Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhootani**, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, emphasized that the cooperative sector must move beyond traditional approaches and be developed as a strong, professional, and business-oriented model. He described the in-depth discussions, presentations, and feedback sessions held over the two days as highly productive. Dr. Bhootani stated that **Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)** are the backbone of the cooperative system, and their computerization and digitization will ensure greater transparency and efficiency.
Highlighting grain storage as one of the Ministry’s key initiatives, Dr. Bhootani said that the world’s largest grain storage scheme is being implemented through cooperatives. Under this initiative, a capacity addition of **5 lakh metric tonnes by September 2026** and **50 lakh metric tonnes by September 2027** has been targeted. He stressed the importance of regular monitoring to achieve these targets within the stipulated timelines. Emphasizing *ease of doing business* in cooperative societies, he called for simplification of rules, expansion of membership, and sharing of best practices. He also mentioned new initiatives such as **“Bharat Taxi.”** Dr. Bhootani underlined that for the overall development of the cooperative sector, the Central and State Governments must work together in a spirit of teamwork.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, **Shri Siddharth Jain**, expressed gratitude to all participants for the success of the conference and called for renewed energy and enthusiasm in strengthening the cooperative sector.
Earlier, on the second day of the conference, several technical and thematic sessions were held, featuring in-depth deliberations on strengthening PACS and the cooperative ecosystem. In the session titled **“Prosperity through Cooperation – PACS Ahead,”** extensive discussions were held on the role of cooperative banks in revitalizing PACS, cashless PACS, the cooperative startup ecosystem, district-specific business plans, model cooperative villages, and membership drives.
In this session, **Mrs. Anandi**, Principal Secretary and Registrar, Cooperative Department, Government of Rajasthan, highlighted the initiatives undertaken for empowering PACS in the state, citing the work being done by the Nimod and Ramgarh Cooperative Societies. Presentations were also made by representatives from **Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh**, as well as **NABARD** and **FCI**.
A session on **development of cooperatives in the North-Eastern states** focused on making PACS financially self-reliant, sharing experiences, challenges, best practices, and future action plans. Another session featured **“Cooperation Dialogue”** with successful cooperatives, where discussions and presentations were made on innovations in technology-driven fisheries and dairy cooperatives, success stories, and future strategies.
A dedicated session on cooperation among collectives discussed the integration of **Self-Help Groups (SHGs)** and **Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)** with PACS, distribution of micro-ATMs and RuPay Kisan Credit Cards by states, and initiatives related to membership campaigns. Detailed presentations were also made on **NCDC’s cooperative promotion schemes** and expectations from the states.
After the conclusion of the conference, delegates visited various cooperative societies in **Udaipur and Rajsamand districts** to gain firsthand insights into their functioning.
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