INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Rural India can only progress through cooperatives model, Amul chief R S Sodhi has saidNew Delhi: Expressing concern over increasing income
disparity between urban and rural India, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation's (GCMMF) managing director R S Sodhi on Wednesday
said the cooperatives business model should be strengthened for the development of small farmers, workers, retailers and consumers.GCMMF
markets its milk and other dairy products under the Amul brand
It is a leading dairy player in the country.Addressing a conference organised by industry body CII, Institute of Rural Management Anand
Bharat can only develop through cooperative way of doing business because that model only takes care of small people."He noted that the
cooperative sector is being talked about once again everywhere since the past one year.Mr Sodhi highlighted that the Prime Minister has
given a slogan of 'Sahakar se Samriddhi' which means prosperity through co-operatives and also created a separate Cooperation Ministry under
the helm of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.This shows the government's commitment to the idea of prosperity through cooperatives."So can
you think why this sudden change and why this interest in cooperatives? India is growing
Our growth rate is much, much higher than the other parts of the world
Per capita income is growing
So why? I think our policymakers and political leadership has realised that India is growing but Bharat is not growing
Incomes are increasing but income is going more to the people who are already rich
People who are having wealth, they are growing at a much, much faster pace
People at the lower end, their wealth is reducing," he said.Mr Sodhi pointed out that income disparity is increasing especially between
urban and rural India, or between India and Bharat.The Amul managing director said in his view, the Indian economy is based on three 'S'
develop, we have to see that all these three 'S' are involved in the development process
They share the wealth and prosperity of India
Now people have realised that only business model which is successful to take care of these 'three S' is cooperative way of doing business,"
