Youth should see cooperation as a platform of opportunity: Gov

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 28 Dec: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd), on Sunday, participated as the Chief Guest in the closing ceremony of the Cooperative Fair organised at Rangers’ Ground, here, on the occasion of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. The Governor visited various stalls at the fair and also addressed the gathering.
In his address, the Governor said that cooperation means working together. The cooperative movement reflects the spirit of “one for all and all for one”. Where “I” ends, “we” begin—and that is cooperation. He stated that cooperation is not a new concept in India, but has been an integral part of our life philosophy since ancient times.

The Governor said that collective living has been a tradition in the country since ancient times. Village assemblies, the Panchayati system, community ponds for irrigation, and collective contributions for the construction of temples and schools are all examples of cooperation. He added that cooperation is not limited to production or distribution alone; it directly contributes to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty eradication, gender equality, sustainable livelihoods, food security, and environmental conservation.
On this occasion, the Governor said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with great foresight, has created an independent Ministry of Cooperation in the Central Government. He stated that the Prime Minister envisions a model of development where everyone grows together through collective effort and contribution, and that such development is possible only through cooperation.

Expressing happiness, the Governor said that Uttarakhand is the only state in the country to have implemented 33 percent reservation for women in cooperative societies. He noted that women self-help groups are not only becoming the economic backbone of families but are also reaching new heights in entrepreneurship. He further said that it is a matter of pride that cooperative societies of Uttarakhand are supplying food grains, dairy products, and other essential items to the Army, ITBP, and other paramilitary forces. This not only demonstrates the strength of the state’s cooperative sector but also serves as an example of contribution to national service.
The Governor called upon the people present to take a pledge that every village should have a strong cooperative society, every family should become self-reliant by associating with cooperatives, and every youth should see cooperation as a platform of opportunity. He said that through these resolutions, the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) will be realised, and through collective efforts, cooperation will bring prosperity, and prosperity will fulfil the resolve of a Developed India by 2047.
On this occasion, the State Minister for Cooperation, Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, said that under the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, 11 fairs have been organised so far in the state, with participation of more than 300,000 farmers. He stated that over 3 million farmers are currently associated with various cooperative societies in the state, and the state government aims to increase this number to more than 5 million.
The programme was attended by the Registrar of Cooperatives, Mehrban Singh Bist, along with other officers and employees of the Cooperation Department and representatives of cooperative societies.