Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): The Odisha government has informed the Assembly that 3,554 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and 787 Large Area Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS/LAMPCS) have been established across the state so far.
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Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta provided the information in a written reply to a question raised by an MLA during the ongoing Assembly session.
4,222 Societies Functional
According to the minister’s reply, a total of 4,222 PACS and LAMPS are currently functional. Another 87 societies have been classified as dormant, while 23 are in moribund condition.
The government has also reported that nine PACS/LAMPS have been liquidated.
Focus on Digital Transformation
The Cooperation Department is undertaking measures to modernise the functioning of these cooperative institutions, including their integration into the NLPS and computerisation programme.
The offices of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies are also being computerised, with efforts underway to digitise official records and streamline record management.
PACS, LAMPS to Diversify Services
The government has adopted Model Bye-Laws aimed at enabling PACS and LAMPS to expand beyond their traditional activities.
Apart from providing crop loans and facilitating the distribution of essential agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilisers, the societies are being encouraged to undertake non-credit activities.
These include operating Common Service Centres (CSCs), LPG distributorships and other services intended to diversify their business operations and strengthen their income base.
The government’s measures are aimed at broadening the role of cooperative societies while improving their efficiency through digitalisation and diversified services.
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