Tapi, March 13 (FN Agency) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the co-operative sector of Gujarat has made an invaluable contribution in providing equal development opportunities to the poor, farmers, women and youth of the country. Speaking at the Sumul programme in South Gujarat district, Shah said the co-operative sector will be at the forefront of fulfilling the Prime Minister’s dream of a self-reliant India and doubling the income of farmers. In the 75th year of independence, as the country celebrate the ‘Amrit Mahotsav,’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set up the Ministry of Cooperatives. The Prime Minister has done the work of strengthening the cooperative movement by establishing the Ministry of Cooperation. “We are moving ahead with the goal of doubling the income of farmers by 2022.
I am proud to say that Modiji has done a lot in that direction. To make agriculture self-reliant, every year from Delhi, he has sent Rs 6,000 directly to the bank accounts of 13 crore farmers of the country and try to make the farmers self-reliant,” he added. He said the Ministry of Cooperatives has established many Primary Agriculture Societies, Milk Producers Unions, APMCOs, Fishermen Brothers Associations, Shramik I am proud to say that Narendrabhai has done a lot in that direction. To make agriculture self-reliant, every year from Delhi, send Rs 6,000 directly to the bank accounts of 13 crore farmers of the country and try to make the farmers self-reliant. “My brothers and sisters associated with the cooperative movement, I want to say to that Modiji has decided to form the Ministry of Cooperation, then we should thank Modiji with thunderous applause,” he added. People of Gujarat have seen the miracle of cooperation. Sardar Patel, Tribhuvanbhai, Bhaikaka, Vaikunthbhai Mehta laid the foundation for a strong cooperative movement within Gujarat and Amul stands on that foundation. Amul’s brand has become a global brand with a turnover of Rs 53,000 crore, which reflects the strength of the cooperative movement.
“The farmers of South Gujarat have prospered, they have set foot in this, the great contribution of our cooperative sugar mills running through the cooperative movement is why the state government has not allowed private sugar mills in Gujarat,” he said. Shah further said that Narendra Modi has given many facilities in the budget for the cooperative sector, while also solving problems related to income tax, liabilities of about Rs 8000 crore, going on for around 40 years. Modiji took the decision in two-and-a-half minutes and all the cooperative production organisations were brought at par with the corporate tax. The Central government is going to provide software to all the primary agricultural societies of India in the coming days. For the basic facilities of more than Rs 900 crore, the government has set up the Cooperation Department, he added. “Modiji has a dream of five trillion dollar economy, in which the maximum contribution will be made by the cooperative sector in the coming days. When the contribution of the cooperative sector will increase, then lakhs of crores of people will benefit. If Sumul becomes prosperous, 2.5 lakh people will benefit. “If the cooperative sector is strong, the poor man of the country will be strong, the farmer of the country will be strong, the country’s pastoral sister, mother and daughter will be strong,” he added.