Farmers to be made self-reliant by strengthening cooperation - Chief Secretary Mr. Vikas Sheel

High-level meeting of State Cooperative Development Committee concludes, emphasis on making PACS committees multi-dimensional Cooperative society to operate in every Gram Panchayat, committees to be linked with milk, fisheries, and minor forest produce Instructions to expedite the construction of multi-field ethanol plants in sugar factories Raipur, May 26, 2026 / Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Mr. Vikas Sheel has directed to provide basic facilities like fertilizer, seeds, medicines, banking, and employment to farmers through the state's cooperative societies. He has specially emphasized the strengthening of cooperative societies to empower the state's farmers. The Chief Secretary has directed the officials to ensure the operation of cooperative societies in every Gram Panchayat of the state. Along with this, to provide a multi-dimensional form to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, they should be directly linked with the activities of milk, fisheries, and minor forest produce. Review of food storage and public welfare facilities In this important meeting of the State Cooperative Development Committee held in the ministry, the formation, objectives, and future action plan of the committees were discussed in detail. The progress of construction of PACS warehouses under the cooperative sector was reviewed in depth. Emphasis was placed on expanding essential facilities like Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra and Common Service Center to rural areas through the committees. PACS to join national committees, digital banking to get a boost National representation In the meeting, a strategy was discussed to ensure mandatory membership of the Indian Seed Cooperative Society, National Cooperative Export Society, and National Organic Cooperative Society for connecting all PACS committees of the state to the national mainstream. Procurement of maize and pulses Instructions were given to register PACS committees and farmers on the official portals of NCCF and NAFED for the smooth procurement of maize and pulses at support price. Micro ATM and RuPay card The review of establishing Micro ATMs in PACS, milk, and fisheries cooperative societies and providing RuPay, Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to all members to strengthen the banking system in rural areas was conducted. Ethanol plants in sugar factories and other important decisions The Chief Secretary directed to take immediate appropriate action to accelerate the process of construction of multi-field ethanol plants in the state's cooperative sugar factories. Additionally, the progress of connecting the state's urban cooperative banks with the umbrella organization, starting internet banking in district cooperative central banks, PACS computerization, establishing PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, preparing a "shrinking framework" for societies, and operating rural piped water supply schemes through PACS was also evaluated. Additional Chief Secretary of Forest and Climate Change Department Mr. Manoj Pingua, Secretary of Finance Department Dr. Rohit Yadav, Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department Mr. Siddharth Komal Pardeshi, Secretary of Cooperation Department Dr. C.R. Prasanna, and Commissioner Cooperation Mr. Mahadev Kawre were prominently present in this meeting. Along with them, senior officials from Food, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, State Cooperative Bank (Apex Bank), Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority, FCI, State Warehouse Corporation, NABARD, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), National Dairy Development Board, and National Fisheries Development Board also participated.