Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said a total 25,674 PACS have been onboarded on ERP Software and 15,207 PACS have gone live.
He further said’ In order to strengthen PACS, project for Computerization of functional PACS with a total financial outlay of Rs 2,516 Crore has been approved by the Government of India, which entails bringing all functional PACS in the Country onto a common ERP based national software, linking them with NABARD through StCBs and DCCBs.” he said
“A total of 67,009 PACS from 30 States/ UTs have been sanctioned under the project. The hardware has been procured by 28 States/UTs”, he added.
Besides, so far, 37,169 PACS have started providing CSC services to rural citizens which will also result in an increase in income of these PACS.
Apart from this, 992 FPOs have been formed in the cooperative sector by NCDC. This will be helpful in providing farmers with necessary market linkages and get fair and remunerative prices for their produce.
Additionally, 109 PACS from 4 States having wholesale consumer pumps have given consent for conversion into Retail Outlets, out of which 43 PACS have received Letter of Intent (LOI) from OMCs.
The government has now allowed PACS to apply for LPG Distributorships. This will give PACS an option to increase their economic activities and create new employment opportunities in rural areas. From four States/ Union Territories, a total of 31 PACS have submitted online applications.
So far, 4,341 PACS/ cooperative societies have applied online for PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras, out of which 2,594 PACS have been given initial approval by PMBI and 674 have received drug licences from State Drug Controllers which are ready to function as PM Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
The Government is promoting PACS to operate Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK) for ensuring easy accessibility of fertilizer & related services to farmers in the country. As per the information shared by States/ UTs, 38,141 PACS are functioning as PMKSK.
In order to provide market linkages and processing facilities to fishermen, NCDC has registered 69 FFPOs in the initial phase. In addition, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has allocated the work of converting 1000 existing fisheries cooperative societies into FFPOs to NCDC, with an approved outlay of Rs 225.50 crore.
Shah said, “Implementation of the Common Accounting System (CAS) and Management Information System (MIS) at PACS level under this project would improve governance and transparency in PACS, thus leading to speedy disbursal of loans, lowering of transaction cost, reduction in imbalances in payments, seamless accounting with DCCBs and StCBs and will also increase efficiency”, the minister underlined.
“It will enhance trustworthiness in the working of PACS among farmers, thus contributing towards realizing the vision of “Sahakar se Samridhi”, the minister said.