Amit Shah, the Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, recently kicked off the second Earth Summit at the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar. This event aims to boost India’s rural economy through digital innovation. Shah introduced Sahakar Sarathi Private Limited, a platform that could change the game for rural cooperative banking.
During his speech, Shah revealed 14 new digital tools designed for Rural Cooperative Banks. He also shared insights from the NABARD-BCG report, *The Future of Rural Banking*, which outlines strategies to enhance rural credit and strengthen cooperative banks.
Shah emphasized the importance of rural India in achieving a developed nation. He mentioned, “Our rural economy budget has expanded 3.75 times since 2014, showing our commitment to villages. We envision a future where 50 crore Indians engage in cooperatives, significantly boosting our GDP.” He argued that addressing rural challenges is crucial for tackling broader global issues.
One standout feature of the summit was the 14 advanced digital products launched under the Sahakar Sarathi initiative:
- Sahakar Setu: A unified digital loan platform.
- digiKCC: An automated Kisan Credit Card system.
- ePACS: A national ERP platform designed for PACS, with plans to onboard 25,000 units.
- Cooperative Governance Index: A framework to assess the governance quality of cooperative banks.
- World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan Portal: A real-time digital monitoring system for grain storage.
To boost efficiency and cybersecurity, several Expert-as-a-Service platforms were launched, including CISO Sarathi for cybersecurity and Shiksha Sarathi for skill development.
Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, praised the state’s role in rural tech innovation. He stated, “Gujarat is the growth engine of India and is poised to lead in rural technological advances.” Shaji K.V., Chairman of NABARD, remarked that Sahakar Sarathi represents the future of cooperative banking, promising better technology and stronger services for rural communities.
The Earth Summit, organized with the Ministry of Cooperation and NABARD, is themed “Empowering Rural Innovation for Global Change.” It has attracted various stakeholders, including agri-startups, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and global experts.
The summit is part of a three-city series, having started in Hyderabad and moving to New Delhi for its final event in February 2026. This gathering aims to rally influential voices around rural development and digital transformation.
According to a 2023 study by the Indian Farmers Association, nearly 70% of rural households still face challenges accessing credit. Events like this aim to bridge that gap. As rural India embraces digital tools, the potential for transformation is immense, pushing towards a unified, empowered economy.
For more insights on rural banking and development, you can check out the Indian government’s *Rural Development Report* 2023, which offers comprehensive data on ongoing initiatives and their impact.
