Parliament Question: Renewal of cooperative institutions

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 561 ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026 Renewal of cooperative institutions 561 # Shri Neeraj Shekhar: Will the Minister of Cooperation be pleased to state: (a) whether cooperative institutions have been encouraged to enter new areas such as renewable energy, waste management, healthcare and education; and (b) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION (SHRI AMIT SHAH) (a) & (b): Yes Sir. The National Cooperation Policy, 2025, which was launched by the Ministry of Cooperation on 24th July, 2025, has a dedicated strategic pillar on “entering new and emerging sectors”. Under this pillar, the policy encourages cooperative societies to enter into new and emerging sectors such as micro-insurance, renewable energy, water distribution, health, education, waste management, transportation, biogas production, and mobile application-based aggregator services (for example, cooperatives of taxi drivers and individuals providing household services like plumbers, electricians, etc.), to enhance diversification and increase member income. In line with the above policy objective, a multi-state cooperative of taxi drivers, namely, Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited has been established. It is an innovative, cooperative-based mobility solution designed to empower drivers and provide affordable, reliable transportation to the public. Rooted in the principles of cooperation, transparency, and shared ownership, Sahakar Taxi stands as a people-centric alternative to traditional ride-hailing platforms. The initiative has been promoted by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) along with seven other leading organisations: Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL), Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL), and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). This taxi service is to be operated under the brand name of “Bharat Taxi”. *****