Amit Shah Says New Cooperative Policy Soon, Rules Out Centre-States Friction

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said number of primary agriculture cooperative societies will be increased to 3 lakh in the next 5 years

Asserting that cooperatives will also play a crucial role in making India a USD 5 trillion economy, Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah today said the centre will soon come out with a new cooperative policy and work in tandem with states to strengthen the cooperative movement.

Mr Shah, who is also the Union Home Minister, also announced that the number of primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACs) will be increased to 3 lakh in the next five years. At present, there are about 65,000 active primary agriculture cooperative societies.

Further, the government is working on setting up cooperative common service centres, a national database besides a national cooperative university, he added.

Mr Shah was speaking at the first Sehkarita Sammelan or National Cooperative Conference. The Ministry of Cooperation was formed in July this year.