Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah informed the Rajya Sabha that Telangana has been independently implementing its own computerisation project for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), even though the State has not joined the Central Government’s PACS Computerisation Scheme.
In a written reply, Shah said that as per information received from the Telangana government, 830 PACS have been covered under the State’s computerisation initiative. The Minister highlighted that PACS in Telangana handle large-scale non-credit operations, making digital transformation essential for efficiency and transparency.
According to the data submitted by the State, PACS handled 14.45 lakh metric tonnes of paddy procurement, with business worth Rs 13,974 crore. Additionally, the sale of fertilisers and seed distribution through PACS stood at 13.25 lakh metric tonnes, generating business worth Rs 29,390.37 crore. Ground-level credit disbursement through PACS during 2023–2025 was recorded at Rs 14,651 crore, indicating the critical role PACS play in Telangana’s agriculture ecosystem.
Shah also confirmed that annual audits are being conducted regularly by departmental auditors, with frequent reviews by the Chief Auditor to ensure financial compliance. This, he said, reinforces accountability in the functioning of PACS across the State.
The Minister further informed that the Telangana State Cooperative Apex Bank (TSCAB) is the nodal agency for the computerisation project. The total expenditure incurred for the initiative stands at Rs 43.36 crore. To support the project, the Telangana government released Rs 2.46 crore in 2018–19 for establishing a data centre, disaster recovery system and network connectivity. NABARD also extended financial support by granting Rs 5 crore as stimulus assistance.
For smoother technology adoption, the Cooperative Training Institute (CTI) of TSCAB has been conducting regular training sessions for PACS staff. These capacity-building programmes have enabled PACS employees to effectively transition to digital systems and improve service delivery.
