Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Cooperation is undertaking initiatives to digitally transform cooperative societies and accelerate rural development. In Uttarakhand, 670 PACS have been computerized and linked to the ePACS platform. Assistance is planned for milk cooperative societies in Haridwar, and multipurpose cooperative societies are being expanded nationwide.
Key Points / Main Content:
Digital Transformation of PACS in Uttarakhand:
* 670 PACS in Uttarakhand have been selected for computerization under the national PACS Computerisation Project.
* These PACS have been equipped with hardware and onboarded onto the ePACS ERP platform.
* The total approved cost for the project in Uttarakhand is ₹13.48 Crore, with ₹12.13 Crore as the Central Share.
Support for Dairy Cooperative Societies in Haridwar:
* Plans are in place to set up 27 new dairy cooperative societies and strengthen 25 existing ones in Haridwar district during FY 2025-26 under the revised National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD).
* The State Dairy Department is providing data processing milk collection units for milk quality testing.
Expansion of Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (MPACS):
* The government approved a plan on 15.02.2023 to strengthen the cooperative movement by establishing 2 lakh new MPACS, Dairy, and Fishery Cooperative Societies nationwide in five years.
* This expansion will be achieved through the convergence of various GOI schemes with support from NABARD, NDDB, NFDB, and State Governments.
* All 672 PACS have become MPACS to enable diverse business activities.
* 587 new MPACS have been formed under the central government initiative.
Impact Analysis:
PACS in Uttarakhand:
* Impact: Core operations digitized, increased transparency, improved service delivery.
* Action Required: Utilize the new hardware and ePACS ERP platform for efficient operation.
Milk Cooperative Societies in Haridwar:
* Impact: Potential for expansion and improved milk quality testing.
* Action Required: Participate in the NPDD and utilize provided milk collection units.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB):
* Impact: Responsible for supporting the expansion of MPACS through various schemes.
* Action Required: Collaborate with the government and state departments to implement the plan.
State Governments:
* Impact: Involved in supporting and implementing the expansion of cooperative societies.
* Action Required: Work with central agencies to establish and support new MPACS.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Cooperation: A ministry within the Government of India, responsible for cooperative societies.
Trivendra Singh Rawat: A person who raised a question in LOK Sabha
Amit Shah: The Minister of Cooperation who provided the answer to the question.
Uttarakhand: A state in India where cooperative societies are being linked to digital platforms for rural development.
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies PACS: A type of cooperative society being computerized under a national project.
NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, which developed the ePACS software.
Haridwar district: A district in Uttarakhand where assistance is being provided to milk cooperative societies.
National Programme for Dairy Development NPDD: A program under which dairy cooperative societies in Haridwar district will be strengthened.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COOPERATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 345
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22nd JULY, 2025
Cooperative Societies Linked to Digital Platforms
345. Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat:
Will the Minister of Cooperation (सहका(cid:303)रता मं(cid:361)ी) be pleased to state:
(a) whether cooperative societies have been linked to digital platforms to accelerate rural
development in Uttarakhand;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of PACS societies that have been
computerized;
(c) whether any assistance has been provided to milk cooperative societies in Haridwar district,
if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the multi-purpose cooperative societies are likely to be expanded in future, if so,
the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION
सहका(cid:303)रता मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI AMIT SHAH)
(a) to (b): Yes, cooperative societies in Uttarakhand are part of broader national initiatives
aimed at digital transformation and rural development, including computerization of Primary
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) on a common ERP platform. Under this initiative of the
Ministry of Cooperation, 670 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the State of
Uttarakhand have been selected for computerisation as part of the national PACS
Computerisation Project. This initiative is aimed at enhancing transparency, improving service
delivery, and accelerating rural development through digital integration of cooperative
institutions. These societies have been linked to e-PACS software as developed by NABARD.
As on 30.06.2025, 670 PACS have been provided with hardware including computers,
biometric devices, printers, UPS and VPN (connectivity device) and all 670 PACS have been
onboarded onto the e-PACS Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform, enabling
digitization of their core operations. The total approved cost of the Project in Uttarakhand is
13.48 Crore out of which 12.13 Crore is the Central Share.
(c): As per annual action plan submitted by Uttarakhand Cooperative Dairy Federation, it has
been planned to setup 27 new dairy cooperative society and strengthen 25 existing DCS in
Haridwar district during FY 2025-26 under revised National Programme for Dairy
Development (NPDD). State Dairy Department is providing data processing milk collection
units for testing of the quality of milk to the milk cooperative societies.(d): Yes, Sir. The Government on 15.2.2023, approved the Plan for strengthening cooperative
movement in the country and deepening its reach up to the grassroots. The Plan entails
establishment of 2 lakh new multipurpose PACS (M-PACS), Dairy, Fishery Cooperative
Societies covering all the Panchayats/ villages in the country in five years, through convergence
of various existing GOI schemes, including Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF),
National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), PM Matsya Sampada Yojana
(PMMSY), etc, with the support of National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development
(NABARD), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), National Fisheries Development
Board (NFDB) and State Governments. Currently all 672 PACS have become Multi Purpose
Cooperative Societies, so that all MPACS can carry out different business activities such as
operating CSC centre, Jan Aushdhi Kendra, Kisan Samridhi Kendra etc. In addition 587 new
MPACS have also been formed under central government initiative “Formation of 2 lakh New
MPACS/Dairy/fisheries cooperative societies. All these MPACS may expand their business
activities as per their byelaws to strengthen their financial position and increase their
profitability.
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