'Sahkar-se-Samriddhi' is more than a slogan — critically evaluate India's cooperative sector reforms since the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021.

Q. 'Sahkar-se-Samriddhi' is more than a slogan — critically evaluate India's cooperative sector reforms since the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021. (15 marks, 250-350 words)

Created in July 2021 after nearly 75 years of cooperatives being governed only by State societies Acts, the Ministry of Cooperation has driven a dense reform agenda culminating in the National Cooperation Policy (NCP), 2025 [1]. The reforms have moved beyond sloganeering into institution-building, though outcomes remain uneven.

Achievements: from slogan to structure - Policy architecture: NCP-2025, unveiled on 24 July 2025, sets 6 strategic pillars, 16 objectives and 83 recommendations over a ten-year horizon, targeting a tripling of the sector's economic contribution and 50 crore members [1][2]. - Digitisation: the PACS Computerisation Project now covers 79,630 PACS with an enhanced outlay of about ₹2,925 crore; more than 32,000 PACS have attained e-PACS status, curbing leakages in rural credit [3]. - Institutional deepening: new dairy and fishery cooperatives under White Revolution 2.0, the National Cooperative Database, and Tribhuvan Sahkari University address the sector's data and skill deficits [2][4]. - Participatory drafting: the Suresh Prabhu committee held 17 meetings and 4 regional workshops, incorporating hundreds of stakeholder suggestions [2].

Limitations: why the slogan is not yet a reality - Federal friction: cooperatives remain a State subject (Entry 32); the Union can guide but not legislate for State societies, making the Centre–State coordination mandate of the new Policy Implementation and Monitoring Committee the real test [4]. - No dedicated funding: NCP-2025 carries no specific budgetary allocation, relying on convergence with existing schemes [1]. - Persisting structural weakness: regional concentration in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kerala, dormant societies, politicised boards and thin professional management dilute member benefit. - Inclusion gap: targeted outreach to women, small farmers, Dalits and Adivasis is stated in intent but is yet to translate into proportionate leadership representation [2].

The reforms have given cooperatives, for the first time, a dedicated ministry, a database and a decadal roadmap — a genuine advance over rhetoric. Realising 'Sahkar-se-Samriddhi' now depends on cooperative federalism in practice: State-level legal harmonisation, ring-fenced financing and professionalised, member-driven governance, aligning the movement with SDG-8 and the constitutional promise of economic justice.

(~330 words)

Sources: 1. Implementation of National Cooperation Policy, 2025 — PIB — policy pillars/objectives/recommendations, membership and economic targets, absence of budgetary allocation 2. Shri Amit Shah unveils National Cooperative Policy - 2025 in New Delhi — PIB — 24 July 2025 launch, Suresh Prabhu drafting committee process, inclusion focus, new institutions 3. National Cooperation Policy, 2025 — PIB — PACS computerisation coverage, outlay and e-PACS progress 4. First meeting of the National Level Policy Implementation and Monitoring Committee under NCP-2025 — PIB — Centre–State coordination mandate, National Cooperative Database and monitoring architecture