Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the cooperative movement as an appropriate alternative to capitalist and socialist systems of economies. He said this while inaugurating an ultra-modern chocolate plant by Amul.

Recognising the contribution of cooperative movement and dairy sector for the well-being of farmers and livelihood generation, the Prime Minister said that Amul is an example of an economy, where neither the government or the merchant has a control.

Addressing a gathering of milk producers, Modi said, "Amul isn't just any other manufacturing or milk processing business. This is a model of an alternate economy. The world was familiar with only two systems of economies, socialism and capitalism. Stalwarts like Sardar Patel sowed the seeds of the third system of economy - cooperation, where neither the governments nor the merchants control the economy."

 

On a day-long visit to Gujarat on Sunday, Modi inaugurated projects worth over Rs 1,100 crore, including a new fully-automated chocolate plant by Kaira District Milk Producers' Union (Amul Dairy). The plant is situated at the newly built Tribhuvandas Food Complex - named after noted cooperative movement leader and the founder chairman of Amul Dairy, Tribhuvandas K Patel.

The Prime Minister also asked the leaders and professionals at Amul to take India among top 3 in global milk processing, from the current 10th position.

However, in a stark contrast, on the day of Modi's visit to Anand, Sabar Dairy - an affiliate dairy of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (marketer of Amul), announced reduction in milk procurement price by Rs 20 per kg. About two months ago, the procurement price was reduced by Rs 40.

Modi also addressed a gathering of locals at Anjar in Kutch after the inauguration of a greenfield 5 million tonne per annum LNG terminal at Mundra by GSPC LNG and the longest inter-state gas transmission pipeline of State-run Gujarat State Petronet Ltd (GSPL). This is the third LNG terminal to come up in the State after Dahej and Hazira.

Modi said: "The fourth LNG terminal is also progressing to take shape. This is making Gujarat an LNG hub and gateway for the rest of India to secure energy. LNG terminals in Gujarat are providing energy to the eastern coast of India as well. We cannot alleviate poverty if we are energy poor. A strong energy sector is needed for the growth of any country."

Modi concluded his day-long Gujarat visit at Rajkot where he inaugurated a Mahatma Gandhi museum at Alfred High School, where Gandhi had studied during higher secondary. The 164-year-old school was shut down by the authorities last year owing to reduced number of students.

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