Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah announced on March 08, 2024, that the digitization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) has helped in numerous opportunities for their advancement. Emphasizing this, he stated that the government is committed to establishing PACS in every village by 2027.
During an event, Shah highlighted that the Centre has introduced 20 new activities to be integrated with PACS, empowering them to generate revenue. He underscored the transformative impact of PACS computerization on their development trajectory. Shah also inaugurated the National Cooperative Database and launched the 'National Cooperative Database 2023: A Report', aiming to conduct a comprehensive analysis to identify and bridge existing gaps.
In praise of PM Modi's initiatives, Shah remarked that they have significantly uplifted rural economies and improved the livelihoods of millions. He credited these efforts with lifting 25 crore people out of poverty over the past decade.
Detailing the process behind the National Cooperative Database, Shah outlined its implementation in three phases. Initially, the mapping of approximately 2.64 lakh societies across three key sectors - Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, Dairy, and Fisheries - was completed. Subsequently, data from various national and state federations, cooperative banks, and other relevant entities were collected and mapped.
In the third phase, the focus was on mapping the remaining 8 lakh primary cooperative societies across different sectors. Through this meticulous process, it was revealed that there are over 8 lakh registered societies in the country, collectively impacting over 30 crore citizens.
The move towards digitization and data-driven analysis signifies a paradigm shift towards more efficient and transparent governance in the cooperative sector.
