PUNJAB GOVERNOR LAUDS SBSSU VC’S VISION FOR AI-DRIVEN COOPERATIVE SECTOR

Vikram Ditya Sharma/Ferozepur

Vice-Chancellor of Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University (SBSSU), Ferozepur, Prof. Suresh Kumar Sharma received special appreciation from Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria for his insightful presentation on the theme “AI-Driven Future of the Cooperative Sector” during a special session held at the Chandigarh Civil Secretariat.

During his presentation, Prof. Sharma highlighted how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can transform and modernise India’s vast cooperative network, which comprises over eight lakh societies serving more than 30 crore families across the country. He explained that AI-driven solutions can revolutionise cooperative banking through faster loan approvals, improved risk assessment and fraud detection mechanisms.

He also underlined the potential of AI in agriculture and the dairy sector through precision farming, early crop disease detection and enhanced livestock management. Referring to successful cooperative models such as AMUL, IFFCO and NABARD, Prof. Sharma emphasised that emerging technologies including Generative AI, Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain can play a key role in building transparent, efficient and climate-resilient cooperatives.

Prof. Sharma said that these technologies could pave the way for a “Smart Cooperative 2035” framework, strengthening rural economies and improving service delivery across the cooperative sector. He further noted that AI should be viewed as an enabler that enhances human capabilities and contributes to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 while accelerating rural prosperity.

The Governor lauded the presentation for its forward-looking approach and practical insights into the application of emerging technologies in the cooperative sector.