Lok Sabha on March 26, passed the "Tribhuvan" Sahkari University Bill 2025, allowing the establishment of the Institute of Rural Management Anand in Gujarat as a cooperative university. Union Minister Amit Shah emphasized that this initiative would strengthen the rural economy by promoting self-employment and small-scale entrepreneurship.
During his address in Parliament, Shah highlighted the cooperative sector's vital role in the lives of millions across the country. He stated that nearly every village has a cooperative entity contributing to agricultural and rural development, thereby supporting economic growth.
He lauded the establishment of the first cooperative university 75 years after independence, expressing confidence that it would nurture a new generation of cooperative leaders equipped with modern education and innovative skills. He further asserted that the bill would enhance social inclusion, foster research and innovation, and provide strong leadership for the cooperative sector.
The university is named after Tribhuvan Das Patel, a pioneer in India's cooperative movement, who played a pivotal role in the success of Amul under the mentorship of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Shah highlighted Amul's remarkable transformation from a small dairy initiative in 1946 to India's largest dairy brand with a turnover exceeding Rs 60,000 crore. He criticized the opposition for protesting the bill, attributing their dissent to the absence of a political family name in the university's title. Shah reminded Parliament of Patel’s immense contributions to the cooperative movement.
The Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership over the past decade for elevating 25 crore people above the poverty line through welfare schemes focused on housing, healthcare, free ration, and electricity. Shah stressed that the next step toward economic empowerment is to provide entrepreneurial opportunities to small business owners through the cooperative model.
Since the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation three years ago, significant progress has been achieved, with over eight lakh cooperative societies now serving 30 crore members. Shah pointed out that cooperative governance had faced challenges for decades, but the Modi government addressed these issues through transparent digitalization, the expansion of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), and improved financial accessibility.
The government has also introduced major tax reforms for cooperatives, reduced GST rates on molasses, and launched initiatives like the National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) and the National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL). Additionally, efforts under White Revolution 2.0 aim to increase daily milk procurement to 1,000 lakh liters by 2028-29, further strengthening the cooperative dairy sector.
The Tribhuvan Sahkari University, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, will be India’s first cooperative university, offering education to nearly 8 lakh students annually. Affiliated colleges will be established nationwide within a year to ensure the development of skilled professionals in the cooperative sector.
Shah concluded by stating that the university would serve as a cornerstone of a self-reliant India, realizing Tribhuvan Das Patel’s vision of wealth distribution through cooperative principles.
