Bhubaneswar, January 31: The Odisha government’s Cooperation Department has presented the "State Cooperation Policy — 2026" to the State Cabinet for approval. This policy represents a significant step toward transforming the cooperative sector into a dynamic, technology-driven, and efficient system that is centered around members and in line with the State's vision for inclusive growth.

The launch of the policy aligns with the Prime Minister's vision of "Sahkar Se Samriddhi," with the Union Ministry of Cooperation releasing the National Cooperation Policy in July 2025. Following this, the Union government encouraged all states to develop their own state-specific cooperation policies that align with the central framework. In response, the Odisha Cooperation Department has drafted a policy after consulting with various stakeholders, including cooperators, government departments, educationalists, cooperative institutions, sector experts, field workers, and the general public.

The 'State Cooperation Policy — 2026' aims to bolster the operations of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), LAMPCS, cooperative banks, and cooperative marketing and processing societies, alongside other sectors such as dairy, tribal, handloom, fisheries, and housing cooperatives, to improve service delivery and create a stronger last-mile impact.

Key Objectives of the Policy:

• Establish a permanent, supportive legal, regulatory, and financial framework for the sustainable growth of cooperative institutions.
• Modernize and professionalize the cooperative structure to promote transparency, accountability, and effective governance.
• Strengthen PACS as multi-service centers for agriculture, credit, marketing, processing, and agri-business.
• Foster greater member participation, financial inclusion, and the expansion of digital services.
• Encourage value addition, agri-processing, storage, supply chain infrastructure, and market linkages through cooperatives.
• Enhance the skills and knowledge of cooperative members, CEOs, and boards through structured training and capacity-building initiatives.