By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi launched the state-wide membership drive ‘Sambandh’ of PACS and LAMPCS at a state-level function held at OUAT Krishi Shikshan Sadan in Bhubaneswar. Stating that cooperatives are not a political platform, but rather the foundation of economic development of the farming community, the Chief Minister called upon the farmer families of the state to join it in large numbers.
Odisha has become the first state in the country to adopt its own ‘Cooperation Policy 2026’ based on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Cooperation is Prosperity’ challenge, while rural societies are being transformed into multi-purpose ‘multi-service one-stop solution’ centers.
For the first time in history, dividends have been paid to farmer-members of 322 societies for the financial year 2024-25, and in this process, about 8 lakh farmers of more than 500 societies will benefit.
Along with providing MSP of Rs. 3,100 per quintal of paddy, fertilizer, seeds, agricultural machinery, banking, crop insurance and milk collection facilities are being provided under one roof in PACS and LAMPCS.
Under the ‘Promotion of Sugarcane Production in Cooperative Sugarcane Areas’ scheme, it has been announced to provide input subsidy of Rs. 15,000 per acre to farmers in Badamba and Asika sugarcane areas in the initial phase along with providing seeds with high sugar content.
185 converted mandis, 50 custom hiring centers, 250 common service centers (CSC), 60 consumer stores, 70 PACS offices and warehouses, and 21 milk collection centers have been inaugurated.
The foundation stone of 4 model markets and 3 grain warehouses has been laid.
Online core banking and real-time settlement system has been launched in 300 PACS through National PACS Software and NLPS.
A total of 66 people, including 11 Assistant Superintendents, 19 Store Assistants, and 36 Cooperative Inspectors of the State Grocery Corporation, have been issued appointment letters.
