Sudam Babu | State Bureau Chief Odisha

Boudh, Odisha, September 25: A major cooperative membership campaign named ‘Sambandh’ has been rolled out across Odisha with the aim of expanding the reach of the cooperative movement and encouraging greater participation from rural households.

The state-level campaign was formally inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during a programme held at the Krushi Shiksha Sadan on the campus of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar.

A district-level event to mark the launch was subsequently organised at the premises of Mauseema Temple in Boudh, under the chairmanship of District Collector Bibhuti Bhushan Nayak.

The programme brought together senior district officials, cooperative representatives, elected representatives, farmers and other stakeholders associated with the cooperative sector.

Among those present were Jugal Kishore Samal, representative of the Kandhamal Member of Parliament; Additional District Magistrate Aniruddha Pradhan; Sub-Collector Binay Kumar Bhoi; Boudh Block Chairman Pratyush Priyadarshi Rath; Boudh District PACS Employees’ Association President Subash Pradhan; and District Information and Public Relations Officer Bidyapati Panda.

The event was conducted under the guidance of DRCS Fakir Mohan Bag, while Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies Bhaskar Chandra Panigrahi coordinated the programme.

Focus on Rural Household Participation

The central goal of the Sambandh initiative is to ensure that at least one person from every rural household becomes associated with the cooperative system.

The campaign is intended to strengthen cooperative institutions at the grassroots level by encouraging wider membership and creating stronger links between farmers, rural families and cooperative organisations.

The initiative is also expected to provide greater opportunities for people in rural areas to participate in cooperative activities and access services delivered through cooperative institutions.

Boudh Participants Witness State-Level Launch

Around 300 people attending the Boudh programme participated virtually in the state-level inauguration. Through the live connection, participants witnessed the launch of several projects and initiatives associated with the Cooperative Department.

The projects included infrastructure facilities at PACS paddy procurement centres, large grain storage facilities, PACS warehouses, office buildings and multipurpose business centres.

These facilities are intended to strengthen the operational capacity of cooperative institutions and improve the infrastructure available for agricultural and related activities.

Officials and Farmers Join Programme

Representatives from the Cooperative Department, Assistant Registrars, Deputy Registrars, officials and employees of the Regional Market Committee (RMC), members of different cooperative societies and farmers attended the district-level event.

District-level officials and media representatives were also present during the programme.

The gathering highlighted the importance of expanding cooperative participation in rural areas and building stronger institutional connections with farming communities.

Cooperative Inspector Swarnalata Pradhan delivered the vote of thanks, bringing the Boudh district-level launch programme to a close.

The Sambandh campaign is now positioned as a statewide effort to broaden the cooperative network by encouraging rural households to become active participants in cooperative institutions.