Minister of State, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, has called for a robust cooperative model to drive India’s progress towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. Speaking at the Global ESG Conclave 2025, organised by the World Cooperation Economic Forum in association with Sri Balaji University, Pune, Athawale outlined ambitious initiatives, including the establishment of 500 Cooperative Startups, 500 Campus Cooperatives, a Cooperative Commodities Exchange, and Cooperative Economic Zones.
“Envisioning a fully developed nation by the 100th year of our independence, it is crucial that every individual, every community, and every sector realises its full potential. To achieve this ambitious goal, the cooperative sector must play a significant role,” Athawale emphasised in his keynote address.
Key Proposals:
1. 500 Cooperative Startups
These startups will focus on aspirational districts, harnessing local resources, skills, and ideas to address regional challenges and create economic opportunities.
2. 500 Campus Cooperatives
Youth-centric institutions will be established on campuses to foster innovation in technology, digital services, sustainability, and green energy. These platforms will encourage collaboration and experimentation, enabling students to launch ventures.
3. Cooperative Commodities Exchange
Aimed at empowering farmers and small producers, this exchange will ensure transparent trade, fair pricing, and equitable benefits. It will provide a marketplace to bridge the gap between producers and buyers, boosting rural India’s economic potential.
4. Cooperative Economic Zones
Special zones will be set up to foster economic growth through cooperative-led industries. These zones will focus on sustainable development and inclusive growth, creating job opportunities and promoting rural-urban integration.
Focus on Sustainability, ESG, and the Social and Solidarity Economy:
The Global ESG Conclave also highlighted the importance of creating a Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), which prioritizes social and environmental well-being alongside economic development. The World Cooperation Economic Forum is actively championing this cause by encouraging innovative cooperative-led approaches that contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 10 (reducing inequality).
One such initiative is Coopathon4SDG10, a platform designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving among cooperatives, entrepreneurs, and youth leaders. This initiative aims to generate impactful solutions for reducing inequality and creating inclusive economic opportunities.
During the event, Dileep Sanghani, Chairman of IFFCO and President of the National Cooperative Union of India, emphasized the need for cooperative mechanisms to tackle global challenges like climate change. Binod Anand, Co-Founder of the World Cooperation Economic Forum, highlighted the importance of ESG principles in preparing youth for leadership and sustainability.
Strategic Collaboration
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) and the World Cooperation Economic Forum. This collaboration aims to strengthen agricultural cooperatives, empower rural communities, and promote knowledge exchange across Asia-Pacific.
The World Cooperation Economic Forum continues to play a pivotal role in shaping a global cooperative movement by driving sustainability, fostering inclusive development, and creating pathways for a fairer and more resilient economy. Through initiatives like Coopathon4SDG10 and the SSE model, it is working to transform challenges into opportunities for equitable growth.
The initiatives proposed at the conclave highlight the critical role of the cooperative sector in ensuring that India becomes a developed nation by its centenary of independence in 2047.
