4th Cooperative Mela 2025 Inaugurated in Assam, Celebrating Culture-Driven Cooperative Resurgence.
Guwahati:
The 4th Cooperative Mela 2025 was inaugurated today at the AEI Ground, Chandmari, marking a major milestone in Assam’s journey toward strengthening its cooperative ecosystem. Organized by the Cooperation Department, Government of Assam, under the guidance of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, the three-day event will be held from December 13 to 15, 2025, and seeks to showcase the strength, diversity, and untapped potential of the cooperative movement in the state.
The Mela was formally inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Cooperation, Government of India, Krishan Pal Gurjar, in the august presence of Assam’s Minister for Cooperation, Jogen Mohan. The event has brought together cooperative societies, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and citizens from across the state on a common platform dedicated to cooperation-led development.
Addressing the gathering, Krishan Pal Gurjar underscored that the cooperative movement in Assam is deeply rooted in the state’s rich cultural and spiritual traditions. He paid tributes to the revered saint-scholars Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and Mahapurush Madhavdev, noting that their teachings on unity, equality, and selfless service form the very foundation of the cooperative spirit. According to the Union Minister, these enduring values continue to guide and inspire community participation and inclusive growth in Assam.
The Union Minister of State highlighted that under the decisive leadership of the Prime Minister and the focused guidance of the Union Minister of Cooperation, the national vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) is steadily transforming into a vibrant reality. He described the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021 as a historic initiative that provided institutional strength and a clear roadmap for building a comprehensive, world-class cooperative system in India by 2047.
Gurjar commended Assam for the rapid pace of reforms in the cooperative sector, attributing the progress to the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and the committed efforts of State Cooperation Minister Jogen Mohan. He noted that Assam has emerged as a frontrunner in key national initiatives, including the 100 percent computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). More than 800 PACS in the state have already adopted the new Model Byelaws, a development that is empowering youth and women, promoting entrepreneurship across diverse sectors, and enhancing financial inclusion for over 32 lakh members.
The Union Minister further stated that Assam is firmly aligned with the National Cooperative Policy 2025, particularly its ambitious objective of establishing at least one cooperative in every village by 2026. He called upon all stakeholders to work collectively to build a prosperous, self-reliant, and cooperative-led future for the state.
In his address, Assam’s Minister of Cooperation, Jogen Mohan, described the 4th Cooperative Mela as a vibrant celebration of grassroots empowerment. He praised the participating cooperatives for achieving self-reliance and demonstrating remarkable innovation, particularly in initiatives that convert waste into valuable resources using locally available materials. He highlighted the wide-ranging benefits these cooperatives are delivering to communities, spanning the production of essential goods, the success of women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs), youth entrepreneurship, and livelihood generation.
The Cooperative Mela features participation from 160 cooperative societies representing key sectors such as handloom, fisheries, dairy, agriculture, and youth- and women-led enterprises. The event provides a dynamic platform for showcasing local products, innovative practices, and cooperative success stories. Over the next two days, the Mela will host exhibitions, interactive sessions, and knowledge-sharing programs aimed at strengthening the cooperative ecosystem and promoting inclusive, cooperation-driven development across Assam.
