Page 33 - NIS English 01-15 December, 2025

Amit Shah: The Mantra of
“Sahkar Se Samriddhi” Close
to His Heart
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah’s
interest in the cooperative movement began during his active
involvement in Gujarat politics. He has been involved to the cooperative sector. The Cooperative
with cooperatives since the age of 18 and has experienced University has been established based on the
its strengths and weaknesses closely. His deep insight into experience gained from the cooperative devel-
the cooperative movement was recognized nationally when opment achieved by the Central Government in
he served as the national convener of the cooperative cell nearly 4.5 years. This will eliminate nepotism in
of a political organization in 2001. He is also credited cooperative jobs. Instead, a degree will now be
with reviving two moribund banks—the Ahmedabad a crucial criterion in the cooperative sector. Only
District Cooperative Bank and the Madhavpura Bank in those with degrees and diplomas, and merit, will
Ahmedabad. Cooperation in the country needed significant receive jobs. This will usher in a new cooperative
changes, and when Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed culture. This Cooperative University will provide
the Ministry of Cooperation, Amit Shah was given the education to 800,000 students annually. Affili-
responsibility. As the country’s first Union Cooperation ated colleges and schools will open across the
Minister, in a short span of time, he has transformed the country. It will also offer courses for 10th and
sector at the administrative and policy levels with numerous 12th grades, as well as courses in engineering
new schemes, policy initiatives, and reform measures. By and chartered accountancy.
passing a bill in Parliament, he has brought this sector The goal of employment for everyone, raising
into the mainstream of national discourse. It is a result of their standard of living, and guaranteeing a good
his efforts and Prime Minister Modi’s visionary thinking life cannot be fulfilled without cooperatives. Rec-
that ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ has become a popular term in ognizing this importance, the central and state
India’s economic planning and progress. The closeness of the governments have jointly ushered in a new era of
cooperative sector to his heart and its importance in building the cooperative movement in India. The coopera-
a nation and society is evident in his statement, “Being the tive movement is ensuring the progress of India’s
Home Minister of the country is a huge achievement, as rural society and creating a new concept of social
Sardar Patel was also the Home Minister. But the day I capital. The success of cooperatives depends
was appointed Cooperation Minister, I believe I received a on four things: determination, clear intentions,
department even bigger than the Home Ministry. This is hard work, and a spirit of unity. With this spirit,
a ministry that works for the poor, farmers, villages, and cooperatives are becoming a means to fulfill the
livestock of the country.” dreams of ordinary citizens. n

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