Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries Sector – Pashudhan Sanjivani, E- Pashudhan Haat, etc

Tribhuvandas Patel: the Father of Cooperative Movement

Prelims Only | History and Art & Culture | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Tribhuvandas Patel

Why in the News?

The Lok Sabha recently passed a Bill to establish Tribhuvan Sahkari University in Anand, Gujarat, in honour of Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, a visionary leader known as the “father of the cooperative movement” in India, particularly in dairy farming.

Tribhuvandas Patel the Father of Cooperative Movement

Who was Tribhuvandas Patel?

  • Patel was born in 1903 to Kishibhai Patel and Lakhiba in Anand, Gujarat. He was an alumnus of Gujarat Vidyapith and was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi.
  • A dedicated freedom fighter, Patel participated in the civil disobedience movement, campaigns against untouchability, and the salt satyagraha.
  • He was jailed in 1930 for his participation in the Salt Movement.
  • He is widely recognized as the “father of the cooperative movement” in India, particularly for his transformative work in the dairy industry.

Patel’s Contribution to the Cooperative Movement

  • In 1946, Patel founded the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (KDCMPUL), known later as Amul, to empower farmers and challenge the monopoly of the Polson Dairy in Anand, Gujarat.
  • Patel collaborated with Verghese Kurien, a mechanical engineer, to modernize the dairy plant and increase milk production. This collaboration eventually led to the White Revolution in India.
  • Patel was also instrumental in setting up the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), which played a pivotal role in cooperative dairy farming and rural development.
  • After his retirement, Patel used funds from the cooperative community to establish the Tribhuvandas Foundation, focused on community health and welfare.

Cooperative Movement in India:

  • Pre-Independence Era:
    • The cooperative movement originated from informal local initiatives like Chit Funds and Mutual-Loan Associations in places like Madras Presidency and Punjab.
    • The 1904 Cooperative Credit Societies Act formally recognized cooperatives.
    • The Government of India Act, 1919 empowered provinces to legislate on cooperatives, leading to the Bombay Cooperative Society Act of 1925.
  • Post-Independence Developments:
    • Cooperatives became central to India’s economic strategies, particularly for rural development and social justice.
    • The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) (1963) and NABARD (1982) supported rural cooperatives and provided credit to farmers.
    • The 97th Constitutional Amendment (2011) granted the right to form cooperatives under Article 19.
    • The Ministry of Cooperation was formed in 2021 to strengthen the cooperative framework.
    • The MSCS Amendment Act 2023 aims to improve governance and operational efficiency of cooperatives.

Key Types of Cooperatives in India:

  1. Consumers’ Cooperatives: Provide affordable goods by removing intermediaries (e.g., Kendriya Bhandar).
  2. Producers’ Cooperatives: Support small producers by supplying essential materials.
  3. Cooperative Marketing Societies: Help producers market products collectively (e.g., Amul).

 

[UPSC 2011] In India, which of the following have the highest share in the disbursement of credit to agriculture and allied activities?

(a) Commercial Banks (b) Cooperative Banks (c) Regional Rural Banks (d) Microfinance Institutions

 

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