Union Home launches various initiatives related to women in Keralam

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi”, and as an important step towards strengthening the rural economy through cooperation and giving fresh impetus to women-led development, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today launched various initiatives related to women empowerment and cooperation at the Pavithram Convention Centre in Kollam, Keralam. Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi, along with several dignitaries and representatives associated with the cooperative sector, was present on the occasion.

At the outset of his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Shah congratulated and extended his best wishes to all Malayali brothers and sisters on the journey from Kerala to ‘Keralam’. He said that during the Amrit Kaal of Independence, farmers and people associated with the cooperative sector had long demanded the creation of a separate Ministry of Cooperation at the Centre.

Highlighting Keralam’s rich cooperative legacy, Shri Shah said that Keralam is among those states where the cooperative movement has remained strong and well-organised since even before Independence. Regions such as Travancore, Kochi and Malabar have had a strong tradition of cooperation since the pre-Independence era, making Keralam’s cooperative movement an important example for the entire country. He said that the ‘She-Mart’ initiative being launched today in the cooperative sector was announced by the Union Finance Minister in the Budget, and it is a matter of great satisfaction that the initiative is being launched from Keralam.

Shri Shah also launched the sale of NCCF’s ‘Janah’ products and remotely inaugurated the ‘Vanitham She-Mart Shops’, developed through collaboration between NCCF and CFCICI. He also launched the sale of ‘Bharat Atta’ and ‘Bharat Rice’ to women customers through the Vanitham She-Mart Shops. In addition, free urad and gram seed kits were distributed to women farmers under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, while scholarship cheques were presented to daughters of registered farmers under the NAFED-Kalyan Scholarship Scheme.(UPDATED ON 26TH SEPTEMBER 2026)