Giving the rationale behind the formation of a separate Ministry of Cooperation, discuss the ways to deepen Co-operatives as a true people centric movement in India.

The Rationale for formation of separate Ministry of Cooperation: (1) Guaranteed by constitution - Article 19 and Part IX-B. (2) Huge number of cooperatives - by March 2021 - 98,042 cooperatives of which 46,000+ in rural areas. (3) Better Organisation - administrative, legal and policy framework. (4) Realise vision of 'Sahkar se Samriddhi' (prosperity through co-operation).

To streamline 'ease of being business through co-operatives'. Ways to strengthen co-operatives: (1) Digitisation of Co-operative functioning in vernacular language to ease the process of administration. (2) Procurement of co-operatives on Government e-marketplace - prevent them from private sector vulnerabilities. (3) Marketing with branding as core strategy. Through tags like 'Amritshar', 'hand crafted', 'Indian made', 'support farmers' etc. (4) Promote expert - make process hasselfree. Co-operatives are the strength of micro-finance and support rural economy. They need to be strengthen to envision idea of doubling farmers income.

— Surabhi Yadav · AIR 14