Home Minister Amit Shah to chair National Conclave of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies in New Delhi

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will chair the ‘National PACS Mega Conclave’ on ‘Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi today. The Mega Conclave is being organised by the Ministry of Cooperation in collaboration with the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

The Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) were recently allowed to operate as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs), which provide quality generic medicines to the general public, which cost 50-90 per cent less than the branded medicines available in the open market.

More than 2,000 types of generic medicines and around 300 surgical items are made available through these Kendras to common citizens at affordable prices. This initiative will provide new opportunities to PACS for diversification and expansion of their economic activities, thus leading to an increase in the incomes of millions of small and marginal farmers associated with them. It will also help in creating new employment opportunities in rural areas.