The Modi government on Tuesday announced new ‘Ministry of Cooperation’ for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.
This comes in the backdrop of a Cabinet expansion exercise that is expected to take place on Wednesday evening.
This new ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country, the government said in a press note, adding that it will help deepen cooperatives as a "true people-based movement reaching up to the grassroots".
It said that the Centre has signalled its "deep commitment to community-based developmental partnership" and added that the creation of a separate ministry also fulfils the announcement made by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget.