Mon May 12 11:45:46 UTC 2025: ## Gadkari Urges Maharashtra to Reform Cooperative Sector Laws
**Mumbai, May 12, 2025** – Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has called on the Maharashtra government to modernize its cooperative sector laws to address evolving economic realities. Speaking at a public function in Mumbai, Gadkari highlighted the sector’s crucial role in improving rural livelihoods and urged the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank to conduct a comprehensive study on the socio-economic impact of the cooperative movement.
Gadkari advocated for a new law that balances elements of the current Cooperative Act and the Companies Act. He emphasized the need to adapt to changing economic conditions, citing the imbalance between sectors contributing to the GDP. While the services sector dominates, the agriculture and rural development sector, employing 60% of the population, contributes only 12%. This disparity, he argued, has led to significant rural-urban migration.
The Minister presented the dairy sector as a successful model, contrasting the high milk production in some districts with the low output in others. He cited the establishment of a ₹750 crore Mother Dairy plant in Vidarbha as a potential catalyst for increased milk production and a reduction in farmer suicides. He also praised the emergence of farmer-producer companies in food processing as a means to create rural employment and add value to agricultural products.
Gadkari’s remarks touched on broader economic and political shifts, referencing China’s economic reforms and the waning influence of socialist ideologies in India. He stressed the limitations of government control over agricultural pricing in a globalized economy and the need for adaptation to remain competitive.
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