Ever eager to strengthen PACS to boost the co-op movement at the grassroots level, Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has yet again added a new dimension to their activities. Now some PACS in the country are being allowed to sell generic medicines, helping the rural folk in a big way in the process.
A PIB release issued Tuesday evening read “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India has decided to allow 2000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to open Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country.”
The decision was taken in a meeting of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah with Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh S. Mandaviya in New Delhi on Tuesday.
“2000 PACS across the country will be identified to open Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras. 1000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras will be opened by August and 1000 by December, this year”, read the PIB release.
This important decision will not only increase the income of PACS and create employment opportunities but also make medicines available at affordable prices to the people, especially those living in rural areas, it added.
More than 9400 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been opened across the country till now. 1800 types of medicines and 285 other medical devices are available at these Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Medicines at these Kendras are available at 50% to 90% lesser rate in comparison to the branded medicines.
Meanwhile, the Union Cooperation Ministry is busy recasting PACS in a new avatar, wherein more that 30 new economic activities can be undertaken by them remaining viable. Besides rural credit, the restructured PACS can provide community-based services in the field of education (school, college), health (hospital, dispensary, clinical laboratory, ambulance service), tourism and environmental and sustainable development activities to the members, among others.
PACS can also demonstrate, promote and develop the latest technologies or extension activities related to agriculture and its allied activities for enhancing the income of the society and its members. It can also act as an agent or Bank Mitra /Business Correspondent (BC)/Business Facilitator (BF) for the Financial /Banking Institutions and can get engaged as an agency for implementation of social security schemes.