Union Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that India's cooperative sector drives economic growth and democratic empowerment, particularly in rural areas, involving 32 crore people and over 8.5 lakh organizations. Speaking at a 'Cooperative Chintan Shivir', he emphasized financial literacy, data-based governance, faster audits, and stronger internal controls for cooperatives. Minister of State Krishna Pal Gujar highlighted the ministry's work and the upcoming 'Bharat Taxi' initiative. Former minister Suresh Prabhu projected the sector as a key economic driver for the next decade.