Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah addressed the State-Level Cooperative Conference in Bhopal as the Chief Guest. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and other ministers were also present at the event.
Shri Amit Shah stated that the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has brought about significant changes in the cooperative sector, which is now progressing at a rapid pace. He remarked that the cooperative movement had remained dormant for many years due to the lack of timely reforms in cooperative laws. After 75 years of independence, Prime Minister Modi established the Ministry of Cooperation, and Shri Shah was honored to be appointed its first minister.
He emphasized that since cooperation is a state subject under the Constitution, the Central Government cannot directly make legal changes. However, several significant initiatives have been undertaken to revive the sector. Model by-laws for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) were prepared and sent to the states, most of which have adopted them. These reforms have revitalized the cooperative structure.
Shri Shah highlighted that PACS, which were earlier confined to short-term agricultural loans, are now offering more than 20 types of services, resulting in increased income. These services include Jan Aushadhi Kendras (affordable medicine outlets), water supply, Common Service Centers (CSCs), railway ticket booking, electricity and water bill payments, and issuance of birth and death certificates. Many PACS have begun earning revenue through these services.
A New Revolution through Multi-Purpose PACS: He further added that PACS are being transformed into Multi-Purpose PACS (MPACS) by integrating dairy and fisheries cooperative societies. The Central Government has allocated ₹2,500 crore to computerize PACS across the country, with Madhya Pradesh leading in implementation. Through computer networking, District and State Cooperative Banks are now connected to NABARD, enabling greater transparency through online audits.
Digital Services in Farmers' Own Languages: Shri Shah also noted that PACS are now operating in 13 Indian languages, allowing farmers to access digital services in their native languages. For example, Hindi in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarati in Gujarat, Bengali in West Bengal, and Tamil in Tamil Nadu.
