‘Cooperatives part of India’s culture and lifestyle, not just a model’: PM Modi at ICA Global Conference

PM Modi said that the cooperative movement is witnessing an expansion in India. “For the world, cooperative is a model, but for India, it is the foundation of culture and it is a lifestyle,” he added.

Highlighting achievements in the cooperative sector, Modi said that India has over 8 lakh cooperatives, and 98 per cent of rural areas are covered by them. About 300 million people are associated with cooperatives in India, he said.

PM Modi observed that India believes cooperatives can provide new energy to global cooperation, particularly to the Global South.

The ICA Global Cooperative Conference and ICA General Assembly are being organised in India for the first time in the 130-year history of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the premier body for the global cooperative movement.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay said cooperatives bring prosperity for all and build a better society. “There are 129 cooperatives and 722 farmers groups, comprising 17,000 members, in Bhutan. Our experience has been positive…,” he said. Tobgay added that Bhutan is building a new city, Gelephu, spreading over 2500 sq km along India’s border. It is an example of a cooperative, he said.

Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica said the cooperative movement in Fiji started in 1940. There are 650 cooperatives across 15 sectors in Fiji, Kamikamica said, adding that the cooperatives are pathways out of poverty.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Home and Cooperation Amit Shah highlighted initiatives taken by the government, including the formation of the new ministry, during the last three years. “The Centre plans to establish a cooperative university and it also plans to unveil new cooperative policy during the current Cooperative Year (April 2024-March 2025),” Shah said.

The conference is being hosted by the Indian Farmers’ Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), in collaboration with ICA and the Government of India, and Indian Cooperatives AMUL and KRIBHCO, and will be held from November 25 to 30. The theme of the conference is ‘Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All’.

The five-day event will feature discussions, panel sessions, and workshops, addressing the challenges and opportunities faced by cooperatives worldwide in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas such as poverty alleviation, gender equality, and sustainable economic growth.

On the occasion, PM Modi also launched a commemorative postal stamp, symbolising India’s commitment to the cooperative movement. “The stamp showcases a lotus, symbolising peace, strength, resilience, and growth, reflecting the cooperative values of sustainability and community development. The five petals of the lotus represent the five elements of nature (panchatatva), highlighting cooperatives’ commitment to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The design also incorporates sectors like agriculture, dairy, fisheries, consumer cooperatives, and housing, with a drone symbolising the role of modern technology in agriculture,” according to an official statement.