Gandhinagar: The ‘Swarnim Shatabdi Mahotsav’ of Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADC) was held today at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, in the presence of Union Home and Cooperatives Minister Amitbhai Shah, along with Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel. While speaking at the event, the Gujarat CM mentioned that ADC Bank, which had been making losses for six consecutive years, was revived by Shah, who is the former chairman of ADC Bank.

HM Shah, while congratulating the members of the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank family for successfully completing a century of service, said that when any organization consistently works for 100 years, having faced many ups and downs, it is a matter of pride for the entire society. The basic objective of cooperatives is collective upliftment, which Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank has been fulfilling for the last 100 years. Apart from financial transactions, ADC Bank has also gained fame in the social sector by enriching the lives of many ordinary citizens. That is why today, ADC has emerged as the “big bank of small men.”

Shah termed the successful centenary of ADC Bank as 100 years of upliftment of farmers across Gujarat, including the Ahmedabad district. He said that the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank, which started in a small room in Ahmedabad in 1925 to save farmers and ordinary citizens from the vicious cycle of moneylenders, has seen many ups and downs in these 100 years. Even today, with Rs. 17,000 crore in business, Rs. 100 crore in profit, an NPA rate of less than half a percent, and around Rs. 6,500 crore in loans, ADC Bank has established itself as the country’s leading district cooperative bank, boasting the highest profit margin.

Shah added that farmers in Gujarat once lacked a common system, were in financial distress due to drought, and were victims of moneylenders. In such difficult times, Mahatma Gandhi called on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to lay the foundation of cooperation in Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi has accelerated the cooperation journey started by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The cooperative movement that began in Gujarat has now become a nationwide movement. He expressed confidence that citizens’ contributions to the field of cooperation will increase in the next 100 years.

In addition, the Union Minister of Cooperation paid tribute to Shyamji Krishna Varma on the occasion of his birth anniversary, recounting his life and describing him as an outstanding freedom fighter and a true patriot. He noted that Shyamji Krishna Varma made significant contributions to the freedom movement while living abroad.

The Cooperation Minister said that ADC has truly embodied the mantra of the’small man’s big bank.’

The minister also mentioned that ADC Bank, which was once operating at a loss, has now become the most profitable cooperative bank. Several small and large businesses, such as petrol pumps, fertilizer sales centers, low-cost food grain shops, and parlors, are now being started by service cooperatives. The Central Government has prepared model by-laws for the cooperative sector, which have been accepted by all states. In the digital age, banks and cooperatives have become computerized. Around 300 schemes of the central and state governments have directly benefited the cooperative sector. For the first time, all cooperative societies in Panchmahal and Banaskantha districts have opened bank accounts in the cooperative bank, a practice that is being implemented nationwide.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said at the Golden Centenary Celebration of ADC Bank that Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi established a separate Ministry of Cooperation for the first time in the country to provide a nationwide platform for the cooperative sector. He also entrusted the reins of this ministry to Lokladila MP and youth cooperative leader Amitbhai Shah. The Chief Minister noted how Amitbhai provided leadership as the former chairman of ADC Bank.

The Chief Minister further added that Amitbhai Shah, with his unique insight, tact, and administrative skills, brought ADC Bank back on track after it had fallen into significant losses due to increasing NPAs for six consecutive years. Under Amitbhai’s leadership, ADC Bank, which had been running at a loss for years, started turning a profit from the very first year. When Madhupura Bank became weak, the Chief Minister noted that Amitbhai Shah took special care to ensure that public trust in the cooperative sector remained intact.

Referring to Amitbhai Shah’s contributions to the cooperative sector, the Chief Minister mentioned several exemplary measures, such as interest subsidies and the safe investment of bank funds, which were implemented under his guidance to ensure that farmers could access credit at low interest rates through cooperative banks. Additionally, the Chief Minister highlighted how Shah turned challenges into opportunities in the cooperative sector, giving the country’s cooperative structure a new direction.

The Chief Minister said that the entire cooperative sector has progressed towards sustainable development and growth under Amitbhai’s leadership. The visionary planning of Shri Narendrabhai Modi and Amitbhai Shah has guided the sector under the motto of “Cooperation Se Samridhi” (“Prosperity through Cooperation”), with Gujarat leading the way. Cooperation among cooperative banks has increased with the movement of “cooperation among cooperatives.”

Gujarat’s Minister of Cooperation Jagdish Vishwakarma noted that, founded in 1925, ADC Bank has grown from a single tree into a banyan tree with 208 branches. The bank has evolved with a modern mindset, transparent administration, and a commitment to result-oriented banking.

Vishwakarma added that ADC Bank has met all the criteria of an ideal bank and has topped the district cooperative banks in the state. Today, ADC Bank has become the “banyan tree” it is, thanks to Amitbhai’s untiring efforts and unique insight. He accelerated the bank’s administration with business acumen. To date, more than 21.44 lakh new accounts have been opened in the bank, with approximately Rs. 6,188 crore in deposits.

Chairman of ADC Bank, Ajaybhai Patel, while welcoming everyone at the Swarnim Shatabdi Mahotsav, said that under the strong leadership of Minister of Cooperatives, Mr. Amitbhai Shah, the cooperative sector is taking many new steps towards development. Since taking over the cooperative department, he has implemented 54 reforms. The “Cooperation among Cooperatives” initiative has been introduced in Gujarat, helping citizens in the state’s interior regions. This initiative will mark a new dimension in the cooperative sector. To celebrate the centenary year, the bank has organized a special 180-day service drive until March 31, 2025, which will include service activities such as medical camps, blood donation drives, and educational efforts in surrounding villages. Additionally, a vote of thanks was given by Mr. Jagdishbhai Patel, Vice Chairman of ADC.

In addition to providing walkers, wheelchairs, and tricycles to members of the 575 Seva Sahakari Mandals affiliated with ADC, musical instruments were given to 673 Bhajan Mandals by the hands of Cooperative Minister Shri Amitbhai Shah, in the presence of dignitaries.

On this occasion, a documentary film depicting the development story of ADC Bank was released, commemorating 100 years of trust and success. DeshGujarat