Bhubaneswar: Every panchayat in Odisha will soon have a cooperative society to ensure doorstep access to multiple essential services for villagers. Odisha Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta announced today these societies will be established under the National Cooperative Policy, which is expected to be rolled out by January 31, 2026.

Providing further details, Bal Samanta said the proposed cooperative societies will operate as multi-purpose service centers, functioning as LPG distribution points, medicine stores, petrol pumps, common welfare centers, dairy farms, and milk distribution outlets. These will be not-for-profit entities engaged in various community-centric businesses.

The Minister recently visited New Delhi to attend a brainstorming session chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. Following the meeting, states have been asked to expedite the process of setting up cooperative societies at the grassroots level.

Bal Samanta also indicated every panchayat may soon have access to banking facilities. Additionally, the State Government is considering increasing the farm loan limit from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh. Currently, farmers receive loans at a subsidised interest rate of 2%.

He added the interest rate for the revised ₹5 lakh loan amount will be announced shortly.