PRIME Minister Narendra Modi outlined the role of the cooperative sector in shaping the economy of the country while launching multiple key initiatives in the sector at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on Saturday. “Today, Bharat Mandapam is becoming a witness to another major accomplishment in the ‘Amrit Yatra of Viksit Bharat’. We are going ahead in realising this resolution of ‘Sahakar se Samridhi’ taken by the country. In strengthening the foundation of agriculture and farming, the power of cooperation plays a very big role,” PM Modi said while addressing a gathering at Bharat Mandapam.

 

“The cooperative sector is instrumental in shaping a resilient economy and propelling the development of rural areas. Sahkarita is not just a system, but also a feeling and a spirit!” he added. “It can transform a simple subsistence system into a huge industrial capacity! This is a proven way of rejuvenating the country’s economy, especially the rural and agricultural economy,” the Prime Minister said. Modernisation of India’s agricultural systems is equally important for a developed India, he said. “Cooperation is transforming the fisheries sector too. Today, over 25,000 cooperative units are working in the fisheries sector. Our Government’s target is to establish 2 lakh ‘Sahkari Samitis’ in the next 5 years. And a big part of this would belong to the fisheries sector,” he said.

 

Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated the pilot project of ‘World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector’, which is being done in 11 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) of 11 States. During the occasion, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for an additional 500 PACS across the country for the construction of godowns and other agri infrastructure under this initiative. Speaking on occasion, Union Minister for Cooperation and Home, Amit Shah thanked the Prime Minister for facilitating investments to strengthen PACS. The event was also attended by Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda.