Telangana: Choppadandi PACS first to open Janaushadhi Kendra

The Choppadandi Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society in Telangana has made history by becoming the first in the state to receive permission to open a Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra.

Despite the presence of approximately 900 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Telangana, many of which have applied for the same permission, the Choppadandi PACS stands out as the sole recipient.

When the Indian Cooperative correspondent visited the sprawling head office of the Choppadandi PACS, located in the Karimnagar district, on Monday, he was impressed by the society’s working style, which operates on the lines of a bank.

The society is operating a petrol pump as a Common Service Center (CSC) and offering locker facilities to its customers, making it a shining example of financial inclusion. Its Secretary was full of praise for Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah for elevating PACS to the center stage and providing multiple opportunities to diversify their business into allied activities.

In his interaction with this correspondent, the Secretary said, “Our society was established in 1952 with 10 members, and now the membership has risen to more than 3,500. The society is active in nine gram panchayats and operates many godowns in Choppadandi village. Besides, the share capital of the society is more than Rs 2.24 crore.”

“The society has a deposit base of more than Rs 20 crore and loans and advances of about Rs 47 crore. In 2022-23, the society earned a net profit of Rs 2.88 crore, and the recovery rate is 100 percent. Comparing the growth of the society in terms of profit between 2013-14 to 2022-23, it has risen by 1,210 percent,” he added.

The Secretary further mentioned, “With the opening of the CSC center, our society has earned a profit of around Rs 1 lakh so far. It is the first society for which the process of computerization was started on a pilot basis. The society is equipped with all modern facilities and also provides health and life insurance to its staff members.”

It is worth mentioning that the Karimnagar District Cooperative Bank, under the leadership of Konduru Ravinder Rao, who also serves as the Chairman of Nafcobs, is leaving no stone unturned in transforming the situation of PACS in the district. The bank is not only encouraging PACS to adopt initiatives launched by the Union Ministry of Cooperation but also providing them with comprehensive support.

As a result, out of 130 PACS in the district, 129 are profitable, and 120 PACS are operating CSC centers. This remarkable achievement underscores the effective guidance and support provided by the Karimnagar District Cooperative Bank and highlights the potential for cooperative societies to thrive and serve their communities effectively.

It bears recalling that Choppadandi PACS received recognition from Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah at an event organized by Nafscob in the category of the best-performing society for two decades.