Bhubaneswar witnessed a vibrant celebration as the Odisha State Cooperative Union, under the guidance of the Department of Cooperation, Government of Odisha, organised the inaugural ceremony of the 5th Foundation Day of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, at Cooperative Bhavan.
The nationwide campaign, running from June 29 to July 6, 2026, aims to connect citizens with the cooperative movement and showcase the Ministry’s achievements. Key objectives include strengthening Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), honouring farmers, promoting Green Cooperatives through tree plantation, encouraging youth and women’s participation, establishing new cooperatives for the younger generation, and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and modern technology into cooperative institutions.
The event was inaugurated by Pradeep Bal Samanta, Minister for Cooperation, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, Government of Odisha, who hoisted the Cooperative Flag before addressing a public meeting. He emphasised Odisha’s commitment to “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) and announced initiatives to establish cooperative societies in every Gram Panchayat. He also highlighted the transformation of PACS into Multi-Purpose PACS (M-PACS) and the alignment of Odisha Cooperative Policy–2026 with the National Cooperative Policy–2025.
Manish Agrawal, IAS, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, spoke on making cooperatives profitable and sustainable, while K. Sudarshan Chakraborty, IAS, Director of Agricultural Marketing, stressed the importance of infrastructure development. Chairperson Prabasini Sadangi presided over the function and expressed gratitude to the Department for entrusting the Union with this landmark event.
The ceremony also featured the release of a special edition of Samabaya Samachar and the Cooperative Circular Book. Senior officials, cooperative leaders, and members actively participated, making the event a true reflection of Odisha’s cooperative spirit.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Sunita Pati, Secretary of the Odisha State Cooperative Union.
