Centre Applauds Odisha’s Cooperative Push, Reviews Key Reforms at SCDC Meet

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s ongoing efforts to revitalise and modernise the cooperative sector received strong endorsement from the Centre during the 4th meeting of the State Cooperative Development Committee (SCDC), attended by Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India. The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, IAS, reviewed major reforms and implementation progress aligned with the national vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi.”

Accompanied by Siddharth Jain, Joint Secretary, and Mukesh Kumar, Director, Shri Bhutani assessed Odisha’s performance across key focus areas including digitalisation, infrastructure creation, service diversification, and institutional strengthening of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS). The Union Secretary expressed satisfaction over the State’s momentum and appreciated its proactive approach in translating national policies into on-ground impact.

The review highlighted substantial progress in PACS and RCS office computerisation, rapid operationalisation of new PACS and LAMPCS, and accelerated rollout of grain storage infrastructure under the world’s largest grain storage plan. Expansion of citizen-centric services through cooperatives, including Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jana-Aushadhi Kendras, Common Service Centres (CSCs), NAFED Bazaars, and OMFED/AMUL parlours, along with enhanced fertiliser distribution and milk procurement, also featured prominently.

Odisha’s transformative State-level initiatives drew special appreciation, particularly the allocation of a minimum one acre of government land to PACS/LAMPCS for infrastructure development, strengthening of PACS and Paddy Procurement Centres (PPCs), and provision of seed money and share capital support. Structural reforms such as centralised recruitment and cadre rules for CEOs of PACS/LAMPCS, strengthening of cooperative banking, and revival of defunct cooperative sugar mills were also reviewed.

Government of India representatives lauded these innovative measures and assured continued support to further scale up cooperative-led development. Stress was laid on strengthening district-level implementation and ensuring time-bound execution of infrastructure projects.

Following the SCDC meeting, the Union Secretary interacted with District Collectors, urging them to fast-track land alienation for grain storage projects and hold regular District Cooperative Development Committee (DCDC) meetings. He also inaugurated a digital and IT proficiency training programme for PACS and LAMPCS employees, organised with support from Odisha Knowledge Corporation Ltd. (OKCL), aimed at building grassroots digital capacity.

During a visit to the OMFED Head Office, Bhutani emphasised stronger convergence among cooperative institutions to create an integrated and resilient cooperative ecosystem in the State.