Odisha Gears Up for International Year of Cooperatives 2025

Bhubaneswar: The State-Level Cooperative Development Committee (SCDC) held its third review meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, to discuss the roadmap for Odisha’s celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025. This initiative, declared by the United Nations, focuses on advancing cooperative models to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

During the meeting, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Cooperation Department, presented the framework for a series of activities to be organized across the state, aimed at increasing awareness of the cooperative sector. The theme for IYC-2025, “Cooperatives for a Better World,” will guide a range of initiatives aimed at making cooperatives a key player in addressing global challenges.

The Odisha government has outlined an extensive plan, in line with the national celebrations initiated by the Prime Minister, which will run from March to December 2025. This includes statewide programs focusing on capacity building and stakeholder engagement. The Chief Minister will lead a high-level state committee to oversee the celebrations, while the SCDC will monitor its implementation. District-level committees will also play a crucial role in organizing local events.

Chief Secretary Ahuja stressed the importance of improving the structure and management of the cooperative sector to better support farmers and other key communities. He also noted that public awareness campaigns will be critical to the success of these initiatives, especially in rural areas where cooperatives have a significant impact.

Various programs, including workshops, seminars, and debates, will be conducted throughout the year to engage different sectors of society, especially students. Special initiatives will be launched to ensure women’s active participation in cooperative activities. The state government also plans to inaugurate several new cooperative projects to further solidify the cooperative model’s role in Odisha’s economic development.

To raise awareness, the government will utilize “Samabaya Raths” (Cooperative Awareness Chariots) to visit districts and educate people on the benefits of cooperatives. Street plays, farmer camps, and interactive workshops will also be organized, along with state-level training programs to ensure that cooperative societies are equipped to sustain and grow.

During the meeting, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, and Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of Panchayati Raj, along with other senior officials, discussed ways to improve outreach and collaboration for IYC-2025.