Pune, 4th April 2025

In a significant step towards empowering rural youth and strengthening India’s rural banking and cooperative ecosystem, the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune, under the aegis of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, has entered into a landmark partnership with the Syngenta Foundation India for the formal launch and execution of the “Bharat-Banker” program across the country.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed on April 4, 2025, at VAMNICOM, Pune, in the presence of the Country Director of the Syngenta Foundation, senior officials from the Syngenta Foundation India team, Director of VAMNICOM, and distinguished faculty members of the institution. The event also coincided with the ongoing celebrations marking the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, adding symbolic value to this collaborative effort focused on cooperative-led transformation in rural India.

The “Bharat-Banker” program is a pioneering initiative designed to empower 25,000 rural youth across India with core competencies and employable skills in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector. The program directly contributes to the Ministry of Cooperation’s flagship goals, particularly in the areas of PACS computerization, transformation of PACS into Common Service Centers (CSCs), and capacity building of the cooperative workforce to ensure sustainable rural development.

Through this initiative, VAMNICOM and Syngenta Foundation aim to create a cadre of Cooperative Ambassadors who will act as change agents and drivers of financial inclusion, cooperative entrepreneurship, and local economic resilience. These trained youth will play a vital role in enhancing the functional efficiency of PACS, promoting digital financial literacy, and strengthening the last-mile delivery of cooperative and financial services in rural areas.

The program is structured around five key components:

1. Skill-Oriented Curriculum: The curriculum has been co-developed by VAMNICOM and the Syngenta Foundation to address specific needs of the rural banking sector. It includes modules on cooperative banking, microfinance, rural insurance, digital financial services, and PACS transformation.
2. Train the Trainer (ToT) Model: VAMNICOM experts will conduct training for master trainers, ensuring seamless knowledge dissemination and quality assurance across India under VAMNICOM’s academic supervision.
3. Certification: Upon successful completion of the training program, participants will be awarded a certification by VAMNICOM, which will significantly enhance their employability in the BFSI and cooperative sectors.
4. Internships and Field Exposure: The program includes one-month practical internships with cooperative banks and PACS to bridge classroom learning with on-ground operational experience.
5. PAN India Rollout: With VAMNICOM as the nodal agency, the Syngenta Foundation will facilitate implementation across multiple states, managing faculty deployment, content delivery, training logistics, and residential support for the participants.

The MoU signing ceremony was marked by a shared commitment to rural youth empowerment and cooperative development. On this occasion, the Country Director of Syngenta Foundation India, Shri. Rajendra Jog stated,

“This partnership will empower thousands of young individuals from rural India by equipping them with industry-relevant skills, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to the cooperative and financial sectors.”

Dr. Hema Yadav, Director of VAMNICOM, emphasized the transformative nature of the collaboration, noting,

“The Bharat-Banker program embodies the spirit of cooperative empowerment. By integrating capacity building with real-world experience, we are building a strong, skilled workforce for the cooperative movement and the rural banking ecosystem.”

Adding to the occasion, Prof. Shantanu Ghosh, Registrar, VAMNICOM to the initiative, emphasized the broader training ecosystem value:

“This initiative is not just about skilling—it’s about creating a sustainable, vibrant ecosystem of learning, empowerment, and cooperative transformation. The Bharat-Banker program will become a model for training rural stakeholders in modern financial practices while preserving the cooperative ethos. It is a leap forward in our journey to make cooperatives self-sufficient, digital-ready, and inclusive.”

This initiative sets a new benchmark in public-private partnerships for cooperative development and rural skilling. As the nation celebrates the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, the Bharat-Banker program stands as a beacon of inclusive development and grassroots transformation, with far-reaching impact across India's rural landscape.

Please find copy of MoU between Syngenta Foundation & VAMNICOM here

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