Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) are expanding their services beyond traditional activities. Already facilitating railway ticket bookings through Common Service Centres (CSCs), they will soon offer airline ticket bookings as well. This announcement was made by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.

The Central Government is actively working to make PACS financially viable by diversifying their functions. As part of this initiative, PACS have been integrated into over 20 activities, including operating CSCs and Jan Aushadhi Kendras. The introduction of airline ticket booking services marks another step in this expansion.

While chairing the first meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Union Ministry of Cooperation on the topic ‘Initiatives Taken and Currently Being Undertaken by Cooperative Societies’, Amit Shah highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen the cooperative sector. He emphasized that since the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation, the government has collaborated with states to develop a comprehensive PACS database. The registration process for two lakh PACS is underway, and the National Cooperative Database is nearing completion, enabling instant access to cooperative society data nationwide.

Further, Shah underscored the ongoing digitization of PACS, stating that in the future, every Panchayat in the country will have access to PACS. Nearly all states have adopted new bylaws to enhance their efficiency. The Modi government, he noted, sees cooperatives as key to employment generation and rural prosperity.

Additionally, Shah mentioned the introduction of a bill to establish Tribhuvan Sahkari University during the current budget session. Once passed, this university will provide technical education and training in accounting and administration for professionals in the cooperative sector, ensuring a skilled workforce.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing cooperatives with the same opportunities as the corporate sector. The Ministry of Cooperation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, and the Income Tax Department, has taken steps to align the tax structures of both sectors. Shah expressed confidence that cooperatives will not only thrive but also compete with corporate enterprises, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).Recognizing regional disparities in cooperative development, the government is implementing targeted measures to ensure balanced growth across all states.