BHUBANESWAR: The much-hyped digital push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for online transactions across the country seems to have hit a roadblock in the State as most of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), which cater to the needs of people in villages, are yet to be computerised.
Sources said of 2,708 PACS in the State, only 3 per cent has been computerised so far. Though a target was set to complete computerisation of all such societies by end of March, 76 PACS under Banki central cooperative bank in Cuttack district have Core Banking Solution (CBS) facilities.
Along with 2,708 PACS at village level, Odisha State Cooperative Bank (OSCB) has 17 District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs) with 355 branches across the State. All branches of the bank have been computerised with CBS facilities.
While financial assistance of `12 crore was made under Rashtriya Krushi Bikash Yojana towards computerisation of PACS, National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (Nabard) had provided `2 lakh each as gap funding for CBS facilities of all branches of Central cooperative banks.
An official of OSCB’s IT Department said all branches of the cooperative bank have been computerised and all DCCBs and some of their branches have been provided with ATM facilities. ‘’Computerisation of PACS is being done on a war footing. We hope it will be completed by June 30,’’ he said.
Digitisation of PACS is essential as they play a major role during paddy procurement from farmers who often complain of delayed payment which is made through cheques under direct benefit transfer scheme.
Apart from paddy procurement, PACS are also involved in supplying seeds, fertilisers and agricultural equipment to farmers. Once the PACS are computerised, farmers can get their dues credited in their accounts online.
Meanwhile, the State Government has planned to introduce Rupay Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to replace KCC passbooks for smooth payment process. While the State has 68,11,683 KCC passbooks, the cooperative banks have a share of nearly 33 lakh passbooks which would be converted into Rupay cards. So far, only around six lakh cards have been dispatched to various DCCBs.
Plans are also afoot for digitisation of all Self Help Groups (SHGs) across the State. Now the process has been started in Jagatsinghpur district where 10,440 SHGs have been digitised on pilot basis.