Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol interacted with over 200 representatives from 100 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) hailing from 13 states across India, invited as special guests for the 76th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
Accompanied by Ministry of Cooperation Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani and other senior officials, the Minister highlighted the critical role of PACS in rural development, making them hubs for not just financial activities but also community welfare.
The PACS representatives, invited from states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, participated in a meaningful interaction focused on enhancing the cooperative ecosystem.
Mohol emphasized that the invitation to PACS representatives as special guests at the Republic Day parade symbolizes the government’s acknowledgment of their pivotal contribution to rural development and community growth.
The Ministry of Cooperation, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, remains committed to transforming cooperatives into multi-purpose institutions.
The ongoing computerization of PACS is a cornerstone of this transformation. The Centrally Sponsored Project for computerizing 67,930 PACS aims to revolutionize rural financial systems by improving efficiency, transparency, and profitability.
Through digitization, PACS are now equipped to provide faster loan disbursement, seamless Direct Benefit Transfers, and advanced banking services. Beyond financial services, they are being empowered to offer non-financial benefits such as grain storage facilities, Common Service Centres, and Jan Aushadhi Kendras, further broadening their role in rural communities.
The interaction also emphasized the government’s collaboration with key stakeholders such as NABARD, state governments, and cooperative banks to achieve Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation). Shri Mohol remarked that strengthening PACS through digitization and multi-functionality will empower rural communities and accelerate India’s vision of inclusive development.
The government’s decision to invite PACS representatives as special guests for Republic Day celebrations underscores their indispensable role in rural India’s development journey. The PACS representatives who have witnessed the benefits of digitization lauded the government’s efforts to modernize cooperative institutions and make them more community-focused.
With these initiatives, the Ministry of Cooperation aims to transform PACS into engines of growth and inclusive development, aligning them with the national agenda of empowerment and prosperity for rural India.
