In yet another example of how a strong minister could help his sector, Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has brought the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister to agree to the idea by which PACS would become a truly business hub in rural areas. The move will not only transform the rural landscape but also help more than 13 crore farmers in the process.
In this regard, Shah held a meeting with Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri wherein the latter’s ministry agreed to convert existing Wholesale Consumer Licensed Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) into retail outlets.
Besides, PACS will be given priority in allotment of new petrol and diesel dealerships which will strengthen the cooperative movement. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has also approved PACS eligibility for LPG distributorship. Priority will be given for the purchase of ethanol produced by cooperative sugar mills and now PACS will also be able to set up and operate retail outlets.
In a press release the Cooperation Ministry says “Under this, the existing PACS will be given a one-time option to convert their wholesale consumer pumps into retail outlets, provided they fulfil all the requirements for setting up retail outlets in rural areas, including statutory approvals and other permissions.”
It has also been decided that PACS will be considered under the Combined Category -2(CC 2) along with the freedom fighter and sports quota in allotment of new petrol/diesel dealerships.
Under the Ethanol Blending Program, the Ministry of Petroleum will ensure that cooperative sugar mills are given priority for ethanol procurement on par with other private companies.
As reported earlier in these columns, the Cooperation Ministry is parallelly working hard to strengthen PACS through Model Bylaws. Around 1 lakh PACS across the country will become the pivot of rural economic development and will be able to function as multi-dimensional units. They will help in increasing the income of more than 13 crore farmers of the country through more than 25 activities, claimed a PIB release.
Earlier, the Union Budget set a fund for Computerization of PACS which will enable PACS to be linked with NABARD through national software. Also, 300 e-services of CSCs will be made available to the people in rural areas through PACS. Over the Next five years the story of India would be story of PACS as the Ministry has set a target of setting up 2 lakh Multipurpose PACS and Primary Dairy/Fisheries Cooperative Societies covering all Panchayats/Villages
Amit Shah expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his continuous support in expanding the coverage of the cooperative sector and strengthening it.