On July 5, 2025, a significant event took place in Anand, Gujarat. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel laid the foundation stone for the Tribhuvan Cooperative University. This university is the first of its kind in India and represents a major step in promoting cooperative education and strengthening the cooperative sector in the country.
The idea for this university emerged after the Union government announced it in the current budget just four months prior to the ceremony. Minister Shah highlighted the importance of cooperatives for the economic empowerment of rural and underprivileged people. He noted that the ministry aims to expand cooperative activities significantly in the future, including launching cooperative taxi and insurance services. The university is expected to provide the necessary skilled human resources for these initiatives.
Amit Shah emphasised that the establishment of the Tribhuvan Cooperative University is a historic step towards addressing the shortcomings in the cooperative sector. The university will be built on 125 acres of land at an estimated cost of ₹500 crore. It will focus on policy-making, data analysis, research, and long-term development strategies for the cooperative sector.
Currently, about 40 lakh employees and 80 lakh board members are involved in cooperatives across India, amounting to around 30 crore people who are part of this movement. However, there has been a lack of structured training for cooperative employees and board members. The university aims to fill this gap, ensuring that only trained individuals are recruited into cooperative institutions to eliminate nepotism and enhance transparency.
The university will not only train skilled employees but also develop dedicated leaders in the cooperative sector. Shah expressed confidence that graduates from this university would find jobs in cooperative institutions, thus promoting a merit-based recruitment system. The curriculum will include technical skills, accounting proficiency, and teachings on cooperative values, which are essential for uplifting marginalized communities in the country.
In his address, CM Bhupendra Patel stated that the establishment of the Tribhuvan Cooperative University marks an important milestone in India’s cooperative history. He pointed out that this university will serve as a new era in the cooperative sector, providing a strong educational, research, and policy-making foundation.
The university is named after Tribhuvandas Patel, who founded the Kheda District Milk Producers Cooperative Union in 1946. Today, this initiative has grown into the well-known Amul brand, generating a significant business and empowering millions of women in the dairy sector. The university will continue Patel’s legacy by training future leaders who will contribute to the cooperative movement.
The event also included the launch of educational modules by NCERT, which aim to introduce cooperative principles to school students. This is part of a broader vision to integrate cooperative education into the national curriculum, ensuring that future generations understand the importance of cooperatives in society.
Both Shah and Patel called upon cooperative experts from across the country to contribute to the university’s development and to ensure its success. They believe that this initiative will provide necessary skills and foster a culture of cooperation that can serve as a model for other countries.
The Tribhuvan Cooperative University is expected to emerge as a hub for cooperative studies, research, and innovations globally. It aims to equip the next generation with the skills needed to address challenges such as climate change and rural development.
Leave a Reply