Empower children through health and sports cooperatives

International Cooperative Day, celebrated on July 5, offers a compelling call to integrate Child Health and Sports Cooperative-inspired models into national education and health policies

By Rita Panicker, Dr Shailesh

International Cooperative Day is celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July. This year, it falls on July 5. It emphasises the importance of cooperatives in shaping a better future for everyone. The day aims to enhance understanding of cooperatives, honour their achievements, and highlight their contributions to sustainable development and social justice.

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International Cooperative Day has its roots in the West. The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) began observing this day in 1923, and the United Nations General Assembly officially recognised it in 1995. Since then, international cooperatives around the word have joined to celebrate their accomplishments and ideals.

According to the UN, this initiative promotes the international cooperative model, emphasising cooperatives’ significant role in socio-economic development. Notably, the UN declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, themed ‘Cooperatives Build a Better World’.

The official launch took place at the ICA Global Cooperative Conference in New Delhi, with a focus on how cooperatives build prosperity for all. Consequently, this International Day of Cooperatives calls for heightened responsibility from India.

India’s Distress and Cooperative Movement’s Response

The cooperative movement in India began during the colonial period as a major socio-economic effort to counter agricultural distress and exploitation. Its history dates back to the early 20th century, evolving through various phases.

The experimental stage (1904-1911) saw the enactment of the Cooperative Credit Societies Act in 1904. The second phase, (1912-1918), was one of expansion and consolidation (1912-1918) — Cooperative Societies Act, 1912, expanded the scope beyond credit societies. The Maclagan Committee Reforms during the third phase (1919-1929) recommended further structural and policy reforms to strengthen cooperatives.

CHSC initiative aims to empower street-connected and ethnically marginalised children to lead healthier lives and make well-informed decisions

Post-independence, the Five-Year Plans relied heavily on cooperatives, particularly in agriculture, to drive economic growth. Despite challenges such as illiteracy, funds misuse, and a lack of transparency, India’s cooperative movement has seen remarkable growth. Today, it is one of the world’s largest with a wide-reaching network including agriculture, lending, consumer goods, and housing.

Since 2021, India has had a Ministry of Cooperation, which is playing a pivotal role in revitalising the sector. Amendments to bye-laws has empowered Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) to expand their operations, improving governance and cooperative. The current theme focuses on addressing poverty and inequality in India, highlighting cooperatives’ role in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here. innovative approaches such as Child Health and Sports Cooperative deserve attention.

Child Health and Sports Cooperative

The Child Health Cooperative (CHC) initiative was launched under the leadership of Butterflies, a Delhi-based organisation, to promote safe and healthy lifestyles among children and their communities. The cooperative holds workshops on health, nutrition, disease prevention, good nutrition, and environmental protection.

Over time, mental health and sports were integrated and in 2019, the CHC transitioned into the Child Health and Sports Cooperative (CHSC). The current model offers holistic support for children’s physical and emotional well-being.

Unlike profit-driven enterprises, cooperatives highlight self-reliance, mutual support, and community benefit. Children can become members of CHSC by contributing a small monthly fee (which they choose themselves) which goes into their Children’s Development Khazana (CDK) account. The goal of the membership fee is to help children learn healthcare budgeting.

Key Roles of CHEs

• Child Health Educators: Children are trained in first aid and hospital navigation, CHEs assist peers and community members, often being referred to as ‘barefoot doctors.’
• Buddies: Are trained in communication and empathy. Help peers reach out to an adult counsellor or social worker.
• Sports Educator: Organises inclusive play and sports for all members, making sure children with disabilities take part in all activities. Promotes children’s emotional wellbeing.

Takeaways from CHSC

Although CHSCs are relatively new in India, they are globally well-established, operating in eight countries. In India, there are present in 10 States. The initiative aims to empower street-connected and ethnically marginalised children to lead healthier lives and make well-informed decisions.

CHSCs address issues, including those affecting women and children in States like Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Bihar. They’ve held online campaigns on menstrual health, which helped destigmatise the issues in tribal regions.

In light of these successes, International Cooperative Day offers a compelling call to integrate CHSC-inspired models into national education and health policies.

(Rita Panicker is Delhi-based Social Work Practitioner & Executive Director, Butterflies, New Delhi. Dr Shailesh is Assistant Professor and teaches Social Work at Amity University Haryana, Gurugram)