Lok Sabha Passes Bill to Establish India’s First Co-operative University: Tribhuvan Sahkari University
New Delhi, March 26, 2025 – In a landmark step toward advancing India’s cooperative ecosystem, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to upgrade the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) into the Tribhuvan Sahkari University, India’s first-ever co-operative university. The new institution will be declared an Institute of National Importance, solidifying its central role in cooperative education and rural economic development.
Named in honor of Tribhuvan Das Patel, the visionary behind the Amul movement and India’s dairy revolution, the university aims to empower farmers, self-employed youth, and rural entrepreneurs with modern, cooperative-focused education, training, and research capabilities.
A Vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi” Becomes Reality
Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, responding to the debate in Parliament, framed the bill as a culmination of years of groundwork:
“This is not just a slogan. The Ministry of Cooperation has worked day and night for three and a half years to bring this to life.”
The university will offer technical and management education tailored to the cooperative sector, foster innovation and R&D, and develop leadership capable of driving India’s cooperative movement to global excellence.
Beyond the University: Cooperative Innovation in Motion
Shah also hinted at upcoming cooperative ventures aimed at democratizing economic benefits.
“In a few months, we’re launching a Sahakar Taxi platform—like Ola or Uber—but on a cooperative basis. Its profits will go directly to the drivers, not to billionaires.”
Additionally, he highlighted the achievements of National Cooperative Exports Limited, which has exported 12 lakh tonnes of agricultural produce globally, with profits routed directly to farmers. These initiatives, Shah said, illustrate how cooperatives can scale with transparency and efficiency.
A Tribute to a Dairy Pioneer
Tribhuvan Sahkari University pays tribute to Tribhuvan Das Patel, whose work in the 1940s catalyzed India’s dairy revolution by handing control of milk production and pricing to farmers. His leadership helped birth Amul and inspired a nationwide cooperative model that still powers India’s dairy dominance today.
Political Consensus and Regional Pride
While the initiative is led by the BJP, the bill drew bipartisan appreciation. Congress MP Geniben Nagaji Thakor acknowledged the significance of Gujarat hosting the country’s first cooperative university. BJP MP Mitesh Patel, representing Anand, hailed the bill as a continuation of Tribhuvan Patel’s legacy and a catalyst for cooperative-driven empowerment for small farmers and entrepreneurs.
What the University Aims to Achieve
- 🎓 Modern cooperative education and management training
- 🔬 R&D and innovation in the cooperative sector
- 🌱 Capacity-building for rural entrepreneurs and smallholders
- 🌍 Global exposure and export readiness for cooperatives
- 💼 Leadership development in the cooperative economy
