In a move to encourage more women participation in cooperatives, the Gujarat State Co-operative Union organized the Young Women Co-operative Seminar with inspiring addresses by Dr. Parulben Patel, Vice President of Parul University and Ghanshyambhai H. Amin, Chairman of the Gujarat State Co-operative Union.
Over 1000 college students joined the seminar from various parts of Gujarat making the event a success.
Inaugurating the seminar, Dr Patel urged young women to embrace the power of education as a tool to generate new ideas not only for employment but also for entrepreneurship. She highlighted the significance of continuous learning and self-confidence, urging participants to embrace the mantra, “Everything is possible for me.”
In his presidential address, Ghanshyambhai H. Amin emphasised the significant role played by co-operatives in India’s economic development. He highlighted that historically these societies have pulled the poor and middle class up the economic ladder. He recounted how affordable loans by cooperative banks and agricultural inputs by village-level cooperative societies were instrumental in improving the lives of countless Indians.
Amin encouraged the women in attendance to launch cooperative societies of their own, generate employment while empowering their communities.
Talking about the resilience of cooperative societies, Amin noted that co-operatives like AMUL, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, and Bardoli Sugar flourished despite the global recession from 2008 to 2010. It is their inclusive and robust structure that helps them rise above challenges. They have therefore received global acknowledgment with the United Nations declaring 2025 the International Year of Co-operatives, he said.
A booklet titled “Sahakare Shakti,” focusing on youth participation in co-operative development, was also released during the event.
Participants also benefited from the expert addresses by Rakshaben Chaudhary from Banas Dairy who spoke about women’s economic development in the dairy sector, and Ruzan Khambatta of Wajra O’ Force Empowerment Foundation who gave a discourse on digital and cyber security for women.
