PACS and LAMPS Set to Diversify Services Across Odisha

PACS and LAMPS Set to Diversify Services Across Odisha

Continuing the initiative to diversify the operations of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS) beyond their traditional role of providing agricultural credit, four PACS in the state have successfully launched Jan Aushadhi Kendras under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.

The Cooperation Department has identified 150 PACS for establishing these affordable medicine outlets. In addition to the four already operational ones, preparations are underway for the launch of another 100 Kendras. Similarly, the department had identified 13 PACS for distribution of petrol and diesel. One cooperative society in Sundargarh district has already obtained a dealership from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and has started fuel distribution. 

With a total of 4,253 Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS), including 1,542 Multipurpose PACS (MPACS) launched by CM Mohan Charan Majhi on December 25, 2024, the state government has taken significant steps to enhance rural service delivery. As part of this initiative, 701 primary societies have been enabled to function as Common Service Centres (CSCs), providing essential e-governance services to people in rural areas.

“More than 1,600 PACS have been identified for transformation into common service centres of which, 701 have become functional. The remaining PACS will offer the service soon. The facility will be extended to all PACS,” said joint secretary, Cooperation Sangram Rout. He also mentioned that new product lines will be introduced to further expand PACS’ business portfolios.

CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is facilitating activation of PACS as CSCs by organising training camps. Approximately 20 PACS have already diversified their operations by initiating milk collection from local dairy farmers, with another 200 societies preparing to start similar procurement activities. Building on their success in paddy procurement, PACS and LAMPS in millet-producing districts have now begun procuring millets. During the last Kharif season alone, millets were procured from 73,000 farmers, marking a significant step towards crop diversification.

Additionally, around 1,500 PACS are ready to operate as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK), providing farmers with integrated access to essential agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, and other services under one roof. Plans are underway to enable around 200 primary societies to engage in fisheries-related activities within the next two to three months.