Lok Sabha Question No. 520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Primary Agricultural Credit Societies in Jharkhand
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 520 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY 2026

## Primary Agricultural Credit Societies in Jharkhand

## † 520. Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram:

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

- (a) the details of the number of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in Jharkhand approved for diversification into additional activities such as dairy, fisheries, godowns, or Common Service Centres under the Ministry's multipurpose PACS initiativ e;
- (b) the status of operationalisation of such diversified PACS in the State, district-wise;
- (c) whether any PACS have been found ineligible or have failed to operationalise approved activities due to capacity, infrastructure, or coordination constraints, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government to provide technical, financial, or institutional support to ensure effective implementation of the multipurpose PACS model in backward and tribal districts?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The total number of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the state of Jharkhand are 4459. All PACS are eligible to undertake diversified business activities, including the establishment of dairy and fisheries units, warehouses, distribution of foodgrains, fertilizers and seeds,  LPG/CNG/petrol/diesel  distributorships,  provision  of  short-term  and  long-term  credit, Custom Hiring Centres, Fair Price Shops (FPS), community irrigation facilities, Common Service Centres, etc. Since the approval of the national plan for formation of 2 lac MPACS/DCS/FCS on 15.02.2023, Jharkhand has established 127 new Multipurpose PACS (M-PACS), 257 new Dairy Cooperative  Societies,  and  177  new  Fishery  Cooperative  Societies.    For  development  of decentralized grain storage infrastructure, 50 PACS in Jharkhand have been identified under the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector for construction of godowns and allied agricultural infrastructure. Total 2358 MPACS are onboarded as Common Service Centres (CSCs).
- (b) The status of operationalisation of diversified PACS in the State of Jharkhand, district-wise is at Annexure-I.
- (c)  All  PACS are eligible to undertake diversified business activities under the initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation.
- (d)  The Government has implemented several measures to ensure the multipurpose PACS model is successfully executed in underserved, backward, and tribal regions:

## 1. Enhanced Financial Assistance:

- i. Higher Subsidies for Hilly and NE Areas: Under the Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) scheme for grain storage, the construction cost and subsidy rates are significantly higher  for  Northeastern  states  and  hilly  areas  (₹8,000/MT  cost  and  ₹2,666/MT subsidy) compared to plain areas (₹7,000/MT cost and ₹2,333/MT subsidy).
- ii. Reduced Margin Money: To enhance financial viability, the margin money requirement for PACS has been reduced from 20% to 10%.
- iii. Ancillary Infrastructure Subsidy: PACS are eligible for an additional subsidy (one-third of the  total  admissible  subsidy)  for  essential  ancillary  infrastructure  like  internal  roads, weighbridges, and boundary walls.

## 2. Technical and Digital Infrastructure:

- i. Remote Area Connectivity: To address limited digital access in  remote  and  tribal  areas, NABARD signed an MoU with BSNL to provide more affordable internet connectivity, reducing the base monthly charge from ₹799 to ₹399.
- ii. Hardware and Software Provisions: PACS in these regions are provided with a complete IT suite, including a Desktop PC, biometric device, VPN, and UPS.

## 3. Capacity Building and Institutional Oversight:

- i. Handholding  Support:  Under  computerization  of  PACS  project  14  days  of  dedicated handholding training by a System Integrator and 2 days of ERP software training is provided to PACS personnel to ensure adoption in areas with lower digital literacy.
- ii. Inclusivity in Governance: The Model Bye-laws mandate inclusive membership, providing adequate  representation  for  women  and  Scheduled  Castes/Scheduled  Tribes  on  PACS boards.
- iii. Localized Monitoring: Implementation is monitored at the grassroots by District Cooperative Development  Committees  (DCDC),  chaired  by  District  Collectors,  and  Joint  Working Committees  (JWC),  which  are specifically tasked with identifying uncovered and underserved Gram Panchayat.

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## Annexure-I

The status of operationalisation of diversified PACS in the State of Jharkhand, district-wise-

| Additional Services Provided by PACS in Jharkhand   | Additional Services Provided by PACS in Jharkhand   | Additional Services Provided by PACS in Jharkhand   | Additional Services Provided by PACS in Jharkhand   | Additional Services Provided by PACS in Jharkhand   | Additional Services Provided by PACS in Jharkhand   | Additional Services Provided by PACS in Jharkhand   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                             | District                                            | Credit Service Only                                 | One additional Service                              | Two additional Services                             | Three and more additional Services                  | Grand Total                                         |
| 1                                                   | BOKARO                                              | 74                                                  | 97                                                  | 42                                                  | 40                                                  | 253                                                 |
| 2                                                   | CHATRA                                              | 28                                                  | 29                                                  | 23                                                  | 74                                                  | 154                                                 |
| 3                                                   | DEOGHAR                                             | 4                                                   | 103                                                 | 31                                                  | 61                                                  | 199                                                 |
| 4                                                   | DHANBAD                                             | 167                                                 | 32                                                  | 34                                                  | 24                                                  | 257                                                 |
| 5                                                   | DUMKA                                               | 76                                                  | 47                                                  | 33                                                  | 50                                                  | 206                                                 |
| 6                                                   | EAST SINGHBUM                                       | 143                                                 | 31                                                  | 12                                                  | 46                                                  | 232                                                 |
| 7                                                   | GARHWA                                              | 89                                                  | 43                                                  | 19                                                  | 45                                                  | 196                                                 |
| 8                                                   | GIRIDIH                                             | 152                                                 | 84                                                  | 51                                                  | 71                                                  | 358                                                 |
| 9                                                   | GODDA                                               | 62                                                  | 78                                                  | 21                                                  | 42                                                  | 203                                                 |
| 10                                                  | GUMLA                                               | 33                                                  | 56                                                  | 35                                                  | 36                                                  | 160                                                 |
| 11                                                  | HAZARIBAGH                                          | 25                                                  | 60                                                  | 56                                                  | 116                                                 | 257                                                 |
| 12                                                  | JAMTARA                                             | 33                                                  | 48                                                  | 19                                                  | 19                                                  | 119                                                 |
| 13                                                  | KHUNTI                                              | 28                                                  | 30                                                  | 5                                                   | 24                                                  | 87                                                  |
| 14                                                  | KODERMA                                             | 39                                                  | 21                                                  | 8                                                   | 43                                                  | 111                                                 |
| 15                                                  | LATEHAR                                             | 25                                                  | 34                                                  | 27                                                  | 30                                                  | 116                                                 |
| 16                                                  | LOHARDAGA                                           | 6                                                   | 19                                                  | 16                                                  | 25                                                  | 66                                                  |
| 17                                                  | PAKUR                                               | 34                                                  | 46                                                  | 38                                                  | 11                                                  | 129                                                 |
| 18                                                  | PALAMU                                              | 141                                                 | 39                                                  | 38                                                  | 69                                                  | 287                                                 |
| 19                                                  | RAMGARH                                             | 10                                                  | 40                                                  | 43                                                  | 50                                                  | 143                                                 |
| 20                                                  | RANCHI                                              | 114                                                 | 58                                                  | 55                                                  | 80                                                  | 307                                                 |
| 21                                                  | SAHEBGANJ                                           | 59                                                  | 36                                                  | 35                                                  | 38                                                  | 168                                                 |
| 22                                                  | SARAIKELA KHARSAWAN                                 | 70                                                  | 24                                                  | 17                                                  | 27                                                  | 138                                                 |
| 23                                                  | SIMDEGA                                             | 12                                                  | 25                                                  | 30                                                  | 28                                                  | 95                                                  |
| 24                                                  | WEST                                                | 111                                                 | 43                                                  | 30                                                  | 34                                                  | 218                                                 |
|                                                     | SINGHBHUM Grand Total                               | 1535                                                | 1123                                                | 718                                                 | 1083                                                | 4459                                                |