In his address, Shri Amit Shah highlighted the historical significance of Kheda, the district where Amul was founded under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He noted that Amul has become a global example of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation). Shri Shah remarked on the remarkable turnaround of the KDCC Bank, which once faced the threat of closure but has now established its own modern, 36,000-square-foot building and implemented comprehensive e-banking solutions.
Shri Shah praised Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for introducing the concept of “Sahkar se Samriddhi aur Samriddhi se Sampoornata” (Prosperity through Cooperation and Prosperity to Completeness). He mentioned that under this vision, the Ministry of Cooperation was established at the Centre for the first time since independence, aiming to rejuvenate the cooperative sector for the next century.
The newly inaugurated Sardar Patel Sahkar Bhavan, a modern, four-storey, centrally air-conditioned building, is expected to significantly benefit the farmers and residents of Kheda district. During the AGM, Shri Shah announced that KDCC Bank has introduced innovative systems such as loan management, document management, and tablet banking, marking a significant milestone in Gujarat’s cooperative banking sector.
Since its inception in 1950, KDCC Bank has consistently supported the farmers of the region. Despite past challenges, the bank now boasts a net profit of approximately Rs 31 crore, a reserve fund of Rs 258 crore, and deposits totaling Rs 2500 crore.
Shri Amit Shah also discussed the Government of India’s pilot projects under the “Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives” initiative, currently being implemented in Banaskantha and Panchmahal districts. He encouraged individuals associated with cooperative institutions to open accounts in District Cooperative Banks to build a robust economic structure within the cooperative sector. He emphasized that if this initiative succeeds, India will not need external assistance in the cooperative sector, eliminating the need for financial support from the Central or State Governments.
The Union Minister urged District Cooperative Banks to support the strengthening of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). He highlighted that the Government of India has initiated 20 different measures to fortify PACS, and cooperative banks should actively participate in these efforts to enhance the overall cooperative banking system.
