Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, on Thursday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Cabinet approved a grant assistance of ₹2,000 crore to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) for the next four years.
The grant will be disbursed at ₹500 crore per year, with the objective of boosting the cooperative sector, particularly in rural areas. Shah highlighted the move as a step forward in realising the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).
“In line with PM Modi ji’s mantra of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’, the NCDC is playing a crucial role in strengthening the rural economy. This financial support will help cooperatives launch new projects, expand existing infrastructure, and offer loans, thereby benefiting crores of members,” Shah said in a post on X. He added that the initiative would empower women to become self-reliant and generate employment opportunities for the youth.
In another post, the Home Minister also welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to approve an expenditure of ₹6,520 crore under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana’ (PMKSY), including an additional allocation of ₹1,920 crore. As part of the scheme, 50 multi-product food irradiation units and 100 food testing laboratories will be set up across the country. Shah stated that these facilities will aid in food preservation, ensure better safety and quality standards, and help farmers fetch higher prices for their produce.
Further, Shah lauded the Cabinet’s approval of four railway multi-tracking projects covering 13 districts in six states from the eastern, central, and western regions. These projects, with a total outlay of ₹11,169 crore, will add 574 km to the country’s railway network. According to the minister, this will not only improve connectivity but also boost trade and industry, while opening up fresh avenues for employment.