The Centre has stepped up efforts to strengthen women-led cooperative societies, positioning them as a key driver of inclusive and participatory economic growth, particularly in rural and economically weaker regions.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said that the government is promoting cooperatives with a focused approach on women, farmers, and rural communities. The establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Cooperation has further accelerated initiatives aimed at expanding and empowering the cooperative ecosystem.
The government is encouraging the formation of women-led cooperative societies across sectors such as dairy, agriculture, handicrafts, and rural enterprises. These efforts are supported through capacity building, training, and financial assistance, implemented in convergence with multiple ministries.
A major thrust has been given to the dairy sector under the White Revolution 2.0 initiative. The government aims to create 75,000 new dairy cooperative societies while strengthening over 46,000 existing ones. These cooperatives are expected to enhance women’s participation, generate employment, and improve rural livelihoods.
The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), operating under the Ministry of Cooperation, is implementing several women-focused schemes aligned with cooperative-led economic development.
Under the Swayam Shakti Sahakar Yojana, financial assistance is provided to women cooperatives for income-generating activities, entrepreneurship development, and capacity building. The scheme also enables cooperatives to extend loans to women self-help groups.
The Nandini Sahakar Scheme offers financial support exclusively to women-led cooperatives engaged in dairy, livestock, food processing, and allied sectors, aimed at increasing women’s role in cooperative enterprises.
Additionally, the Yuva Sahakar Yojana promotes young women entrepreneurs by supporting cooperative ventures in emerging sectors. The scheme provides a 2 per cent interest subvention on term loans and allows women-led cooperatives to contribute only 20 per cent of the project cost, easing access to finance.
