Kollam, Sept. 26 -- Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated a series of initiatives undertaken by the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF) to strengthen the cooperative sector and promote women's empowerment, in Kollam, Keralam.

Addressing the ceremony, Shah said the demand for a separate Cooperation Ministry at the Centre had existed since independence but remained unfulfilled until now.

"Since independence till now, all the farmers of the country and all the people associated with the co-operative sector have had a demand that a Co-operative Ministry should be formed at the Centre, but it was not fulfilled. By creating a Co-operative Ministry, the PM has taken a big step for the country's rur...