Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to boost rural economy, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday launched ‘Sambandha’, a mega cooperative membership drive for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS).
Speaking at the state-level launch at the OUAT Krushi Siksha Sadan in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister urged farmers across the state to join the cooperative sector through PACS and LAMPCS in large numbers, describing ‘Sambandha’ as an innovative effort to build deep trust between the state government and rural agrarian families.
Rooted in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’ and guided by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Odisha has become the first state in India to formulate its ‘Cooperative Policy 2026’.
Under this landmark policy, PACS and LAMPCS are evolving beyond traditional credit facilities into multi-service ‘One-Stop Solution’ centres for rural communities. In addition to securing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy, farmers can now access fertilisers, quality seeds, modern farm machinery, core banking, crop insurance, and milk collection services under a single roof.
During the event, Majhi unveiled a slew of state-wide developmental projects and inaugurated 185 transformed Mandis, 50 Custom Hiring Centres, 250 Common Service Centres (CSCs), 60 Consumer Stores, 70 new PACS offices/godowns, and 21 milk collection units within PACS.
He also laid the foundation stones for 4 Model Mandis and 3 grain storage godowns under the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan, besides launching online systems across 300 PACS via the National PACS Software (NLPS) to ensure real-time settlement and core banking transparency.
In a historic move, the state began distributing dividends directly to farmer-members of PACS and LAMPCS. For the 2024–25 financial year, dividend distributions kicked off today across 322 societies, eventually benefiting over 8 lakh farmers across 500+ cooperative societies.
In an effort to revitalise the cooperative sugar industry, CM Majhi launched the “Promotion of Sugarcane Production in Cooperative Sugar Mill Areas” scheme. Farmers in the Badamba and Asika sugar mill belts will receive an input subsidy of Rs 15,000 per acre. The Chief Minister also instructed the Agriculture Department to provide high-sugar-content cane seed varieties to maximise yield and farmer income.
Displaying a commitment to administrative strength, the Chief Minister formally handed over appointment letters to 66 recruits, including 11 Assistant Superintendents and 19 Warehouse Assistants in the Odisha State Warehousing Corporation, alongside 36 Cooperative Inspectors.
Cooperative Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta said cooperative societies in Odisha have shifted from loss-making entities to self-sustaining, profitable enterprises aimed at linking at least one member from every rural household.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg reiterated the essential role of cooperatives and digitisation in achieving the state’s strategic growth vision for 2036 and 2047.