Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to embark on a new chapter in its cooperative sector with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi scheduled to launch the mega cooperative membership campaign ‘Sambandha’ on September 1.
The initiative aims to expand the cooperative network across rural Odisha by enrolling at least one member from every rural household. A new mobile application will also be introduced to facilitate seamless and transparent digital membership registration.
The Cooperation Department said the campaign is intended to bring cooperative services to the doorstep of rural households, improve access to various schemes and services, and strengthen rural livelihoods.
A major highlight of the programme will be the distribution of dividends by Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Large-sized Adivasi Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS) to their farmer members. This will be the first such dividend distribution in the history of Odisha’s cooperative sector.
In the initial phase, more than 3 lakh beneficiaries across 180 PACS and LAMPS will receive a total dividend of ₹14 crore. The State Government, as a shareholder, will receive Rs 4.22 crore, which will be reinvested in strengthening and developing the cooperative sector.
To support dairy farmers and boost the rural economy, 21 new milk collection centres will also be virtually inaugurated. These will add to the 76 milk collection centres already operational through PACS and LAMPS.
The government will further launch 50 Agro-Service Centres aimed at helping small and marginal farmers access modern agricultural machinery and equipment on a rental basis.
In addition, 46 consumer centres will be inaugurated to provide essential commodities to rural consumers at affordable prices. Another 200 Common Service Centres (CSCs) will be launched to facilitate access to various government and non-government services at the local level.
As part of efforts to improve transparency and operational efficiency, 200 PACS will be integrated into the National Level PACS Software (NLPS) on September 1. The remaining PACS are expected to be onboarded by the end of the current financial year.
The Chief Minister will also lay the foundation stones for the first phase of modern infrastructure under the State Government’s plan to establish 100 model mandis across all districts. Foundation stones will be laid for four of the 38 mandis approved by the Cabinet—two in Cuttack, one in Khordha and one in Puri. Detailed Project Reports and site identification for the remaining mandis have already been completed.
Under the Union Government’s World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme, foundation stones will also be laid for three of the 19 warehouses planned in the first phase. Twelve warehouses had earlier been initiated during Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Odisha in March.
The Chief Minister will also distribute appointment letters to 30 candidates selected for the Odisha State Warehousing Corporation (OSWC).
The State Government said the initiatives are aimed at strengthening rural cooperative infrastructure, improving farmers’ socio-economic conditions, expanding access to essential services and accelerating the cooperative movement in Odisha.
Through ‘Sambandha’, the government seeks to create a wider and more digitally connected cooperative network, with the objective of ensuring that cooperative services reach every rural household.
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