Thiruvananthapuram: Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated a series of initiatives under the theme ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ at Kundara in Kollam. He also invited the state cooperation minister to Delhi to discuss the issues related to the sector.Speaking after inaugurating a series of National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) initiatives at a function held at Pavithram Convention Centre, Shah hailed Keralam’s cooperative sector. He said Travancore, Cochin and Malabar had well-organised cooperative movements even before Independence.“Kerala has more than 23,000 cooperative societies functioning effectively and Centre is ready to extend all possible support for the development of the sector in the state,” he said.“I would like Keralam cooperation minister to come to Delhi and discuss the issues concerning the cooperative sector,” Shah said.“Keralam, with its extensive coastline and network of backwaters, has immense potential in the blue economy. The cooperative sector should tap opportunities in fish production, processing, packaging, branding and exports,” he said.He said he was happy to inaugurate initiatives related to seed distribution through the cooperative sector. Around eight lakh women farmers are associated with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (Nafed) and six lakh with NCCF, Shah said. He added that the female labour force participation rate had increased from 23% to 40%.Shah flagged off NCCF and Nafed mobile vans selling subsidised onions at Rs 35/kg and inaugurated NCCF general products and Vanitha She Mart shops. He also launched the first sale of Bharat Atta and Bharat Chawal, distributed cheques under the Nafed Kalyan scholarship scheme and handed over pulse seed kits under Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission.Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Suresh Gopi was the chief guest at the function. Tourism and culture minister P C Vishnunadh, MP N K Premachandran and other officials attended the function.Later, Shah proceeded to Amritapuri at Vallikavu to attend celebrations marking the 73rd birthday of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. At Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham campus, he inaugurated Vishwa Seva Dinam celebrations and attended Amrita Keerthi Puraskar ceremony.Youth Congress stages black-flag protestEarlier, soon after Shah’s helicopter landed at Asramam Ground around 2.35pm and his motorcade proceeded towards Kundara, a group of Youth Congress activists carrying black flags surged towards the convoy and raised slogans of “Amit Shah, go back”.The protesters, led by Youth Congress state working president Binu Chulliyil, managed to approach the convoy before security personnel and police intervened. Chulliyil, along with Sarath, Kuruvilla Joseph and Saju Khan, was taken into custody. They were initially detained by Kollam East Police and later shifted to Sakthikulangara police station.The protest also triggered a brief confrontation between Youth Congress workers and BJP supporters who had gathered at Asramam Ground to welcome Shah. BJP supporters moved towards the protesters, leading to jostling and a heated exchange of words. Police intervened and brought the situation under control.
