Odisha Cooperative Sector Reforms: A New Era of Digital Empowerment
Bhubaneswar: The Union Cooperation Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani, along with senior officials, reviewed Odisha’s pioneering cooperative sector reforms, marking a significant step toward modernising grassroots institutions.
The reforms focus on large-scale computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) offices, enabling seamless digital operations.
New PACS and LAMPS are being rapidly operationalised as single-window service centres, offering diversified services ranging from fertiliser distribution to paddy procurement.
A major thrust is on building grain storage godowns in every PACS, with district collectors directed to expedite land transfers.
Plans also include Jan Aushadhi Kendras, Common Service Centres, NAFED outlets, Amul-style parlours, and milk procurement systems, alongside strengthening cooperative banking and reviving sugar mills.
Women’s participation in cooperatives is being actively encouraged, while a professional CEO cadre is being introduced to ensure efficiency.
To support this transformation, IT skill development training (OS-CIT) has been launched for 5,422 PACS/LAMPS officials across all 314 blocks, covering digital literacy, e-governance, AI awareness, cybersecurity, and productivity tools.
The programme, jointly organised by Odisha’s Cooperation Department and Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited (OKCL), reflects the Centre’s “Sahakar Se Samriddhi” vision, positioning Odisha’s cooperative sector as a digitally empowered, multi-service ecosystem.
