Strengthening of cooperative societies in Odisha

The article details government initiatives to strengthen cooperative societies in India, with a focus on Odisha. Key measures include the Central Sector project for Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), which aims to bring all functional PACS onto a common ERP-based national software and link them with NABARD. The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has also disbursed significant funds for cooperative sector development. The Ministry of Cooperation, established in 2021, is driving initiatives like converting PACS, Dairy, and Fisheries Cooperatives into Multipurpose cooperative societies for business diversification and financial sustainability. It has also set up a Co-operative Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development Fund under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023, for the revival of sick multi-State cooperative societies.