Odisha CM Launches Sambandh Membership Drive to Empower Farmers
Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has launched Sambandh, a mega cooperative membership drive aimed at strengthening Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS).
The initiative seeks to build trust between the government and rural households, positioning cooperatives as lifelines for farmers rather than political platforms.
Odisha has become the first state in India to introduce a Cooperative Policy 2026, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi.”
PACS and LAMPCS are being transformed into multi-service centres offering paddy procurement at ₹3,100 per quintal, fertilisers, seeds, machinery, banking, insurance, and milk collection.
The CM inaugurated 185 mandis, 50 custom hiring centres, 250 CSCs, 60 consumer stores, 70 PACS offices/godowns, and 21 milk units, while laying foundation stones for model mandis and grain storage godowns.
A digital rollout across 300 PACS under the National PACS Software (NLPS) will ensure real-time settlement and transparency.
Over 8 lakh farmers will benefit from direct dividend distribution across 500+ societies.
A special sugarcane scheme promises ₹15,000 per acre subsidy for farmers in Badamba and Asika mill belts, along with high-sugar-content cane seeds.
The CM also handed appointment letters to 66 recruits in the Odisha State Warehousing Corporation and Cooperative Department.
Officials highlighted that cooperatives are shifting from loss-making to profitable ventures, aiming to include at least one member from every rural household.
The drive is seen as a cornerstone of Odisha’s growth vision for 2036 and 2047.
