New National Cooperation Policy 2025: A Vision for Village Empowerment

Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled the National Cooperation Policy - 2025 on Thursday, marking a significant initiative to strengthen India's cooperatives sector. This new policy, introduced after 23 years, seeks to establish professionally-managed, financially independent cooperative organizations across villages.

The announcement parallels a similar 2002 policy initiated under the NDA government, aiming for cooperative organizations to rival the corporate sector in operational standards and taxation. Amit Shah stressed the importance of early policy adoption by states, highlighting the sector's potential to propel India toward its 2047 goal of developed nation status.

The policy outlines a plan to create one cooperative body per village and integrate 50 crore people into the cooperative fold. Prepared by a 48-member committee, the policy incorporated extensive feedback and discussions with key financial institutions. It aims to make cooperatives pivotal in job creation and economic progress.

(With inputs from agencies.)