Launch of the ‘Sambandh’ Cooperative Membership Mega Campaign, Inauguration and Foundation Stone Laying of Various Cooperative Infrastructure Projects

Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi launched 'Sambandha'—a state-wide mega membership drive for PACS and LAMPCS—at a state-level ceremony held at the OUAT Krushi Shiksha Sadan in Bhubaneswar. Stating that cooperative societies are not political platforms but the foundation for the economic development of the farming community, the Chief Minister urged farming families across the state to join the initiative in large numbers. Guided by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's call for 'Sahakar Se Samruddhi' (Prosperity through Cooperation), Odisha has become the first state in the country to formulate its own 'Cooperative Policy 2026,' and rural cooperative societies are being transformed into multi-service 'one-stop solution' centers.

✅ For the first time in history, dividends have been distributed to farmer-members of 322 societies for the 2024-25 financial year; approximately 8 lakh farmers across more than 500 societies will benefit from this initiative.
✅ Along with an MSP of ₹3,100 per quintal for paddy, facilities such as fertilizers, seeds, agricultural machinery, banking, crop insurance, and milk procurement are being made available under one roof at PACS and LAMPCS.
✅ Under the scheme to promote sugarcane cultivation in cooperative sugar mill zones, it has been announced that farmers in the Baramba and Asika sugar mill areas will receive an input subsidy of ₹15,000 per acre and be provided with high-sugar-content seeds in the initial phase. 
✅ 185 transformed mandis, 50 custom hiring centers, 250 Common Service Centers (CSCs), 60 consumer stores, 70 PACS offices and warehouses, and 21 milk collection centers have been inaugurated.
✅ Foundation stones have been laid for 4 model mandis and 3 grain warehouses.
✅ Online core banking and real-time settlement systems have been launched across 300 PACS using the National PACS Software and NLPS.
✅ Appointment letters have been issued to a total of 66 individuals, comprising 11 Assistant Superintendents and 19 Warehouse Assistants of the State Warehousing Corporation, along with 36 Cooperative Inspectors.