Lok Sabha Question No. 1297 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: PACS with Gram Panchayats
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Shri Dilip Saikia, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1297 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 th  FEBRUARY, 2025

## PACS with Gram Panchayats

## 1297. Smt. Kamlesh Jangde:

Shri Dilip Saikia:

Shri Lumba Ram:

Will the Minister of Cooperation ( सहकारिता मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has approved the setting up of 2 lakhs PACS or Dairies/fisheries Cooperative Societies in all the Panchayats;
- (b) if so, the names of the agencies contributing to the implementation of the said scheme;
- (c) the manner in which States can play a significant role in the implementation of the said scheme;
- (d) the mechanism for implementation of the said scheme;
- (e) whether any special committee has been constituted at the district level, if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether all the States are participating in the implementation of the said scheme, if so, the details thereof;
- (g) whether the Government has taken any initiative to make Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) function as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK);
- (h) if so, the details thereof; and
- (i) the manner in which the said initiative is likely to help in strengthening PACS particularly in Chhattisgarh?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

(a): Yes,  Sir.  The  Government  on  15.02.2023,  has  approved  the  Plan  for  strengthening cooperative movement in the country and deepening its reach up to the grassroots. The Plan entails establishment of new multipurpose PACS, Dairy, Fishery Cooperative Societies covering all the Panchayats/  villages  in  the  country  through  convergence  of  various  existing  GOI  schemes, including  Dairy  Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (DIDF),  National  Programme  for  Dairy Development (NPDD), PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), etc.

(b): The plan is being implemented with the support of National Bank for Agricultural and Rural  Development  (NABARD),  National  Dairy  Development  Board  (NDDB),  National Fisheries  Development  Board  (NFDB),  National  Level  Cooperative  Federations  and  State Governments.

(c) to (f): In order to ensure effective and timely implementation of the plan, States/ UTs play  a  significant  role  as  the  committees  such  as  State  Cooperative  Development  Committee (SCDC) constituted at State level  and District Cooperative  Development Committee (DCDC) constituted  in  each  District  of  the  State/UT  can  perform  efficiently  with  the  support  being provided by these States/ UTs. Further, a Standard Operating Procedure (Margdarshika) has also been  launched  indicating  the  targets  and  timelines  for  stakeholders  concerned.  As  per  the Margdarshika, a Joint Working Committee (JWC): sub-committee of DCDC is constituted by States/ UTs which shall be responsible for identifying uncovered/ underserved Gram Panchayats, taking necessary steps for liquidation of dormant/ defunct cooperative societies, etc. So far, JWC has been constituted in 717 districts of 31 States/ UTs.

(g) to (i): Yes, Sir. The Government has taken an initiative to allow PACS to operate Pradhan Mantri  Kisan  Samriddhi  Kendras  (PMKSKs)  for  ensuring  easy  accessibility  of  fertilizers, pesticides and related services to farmers in the country. PACS functioning as PMKSK helps in streamlining the procurement process for farmers by offering quality agri-inputs, like fertilizers; seeds; farm implements, pesticides; soil, seed testing, etc. under one roof, at competitive prices. As per the information shared by Department of Fertilizers (GOI) and States/ UTs, a total of 36,193 PACS are functioning as PMKSK including 2,058 PACS of the State of Chhattisgarh.

Through this initiative, PACS can diversify their offerings to include a wide range of agricultural inputs and services in addition to the traditional short-term credit services, leading to increased sales/ revenues and thus helps in strengthening PACS across the country including in the State of Chhattisgarh.

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