Gujarat to Launch India’s First Cooperative University

Gandhinagar, Gujarat – With Gujarat has received recognition of being the cradle of India’s cooperative revolution, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is setting the stage for the state to become a global example of cooperative excellence during the International Year of Cooperation-2025. 

A high-level planning meeting was held under the Chief Minister’s leadership to finalize a year-long roadmap of programs that reflect the state’s commitment to cooperative development and rural empowerment.

Highlighting the state’s pivotal role, the Chief Minister said, “Gujarat has a great opportunity to be an inspiring example to the world in the International Year of Cooperation-2025. Through widespread people’s participation, our efforts will fulfill the theme of ‘Co-operatives Build a Better World’.”

The centerpiece of the celebration will be the foundation stone laying of India’s first Cooperative University—Tribhuvan Cooperative University—in Anand on July 5, in the esteemed presence of Union Minister for Cooperation and Home Affairs Amit Shah. A day later, new NDDB and Amul projects will also be inaugurated by Shah, solidifying Gujarat’s leadership in cooperative innovation.

The two-day celebration will also feature a Cooperative Dialogue in Ahmedabad’s Science City, where cooperative leaders from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan will share success stories and discuss strategic goals.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also emphasized that more than 1,200 cooperative institutions across Gujarat will actively participate throughout the year. Already from January to June 2025, impactful events like Republic Day tableaus, tree plantation drives under ‘Ek Pad Ma Ke Naam’, cleanliness campaigns, and seminars for women and youth have been successfully conducted.

Minister of State for Cooperation Jagdish Vishwakarma announced several citizen-focused initiatives during the meeting. In September-October, nutritious food like milk, mung, and chickpeas will be distributed to 30 lakh children aged 3 to 6 years, in partnership with milk unions and cooperative banks.

He added, “To realize the vision of ‘Prosperity through Cooperatives’, villagers and townsfolk will send postcards to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing gratitude for the schemes that have empowered them.”

Workshops and awareness campaigns will be conducted at the grassroots level to enhance the role of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PAXs). From July 1 to 6, Gujarat will observe Cooperative Week, celebrating the movement’s transformative role in rural development and financial inclusion.