The Government’s decision to allow Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to function as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra (PM-BJAK ) is finding huge takers.

More than 4400 such entities from across the country have submitted online applications showing their keenness to take up the initiative which was approved last year.

In fact, more than 2300 cooperative societies have already received initial approval and 146 of them are ready to function as Jan Aushadhi Kendras, said an official from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

Encouraged at the response, the Union Ministry of Cooperation in collaboration with the NCDC is  organizing a mega conclave  here on Monday to deliberate threadbare about the potentials and challenges likely to be faced by the PACS who have taken such an initiative. The conclave will be chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. The decision to permit PACS to open PM-BJAKs was taken in a meeting between Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh S Mandaviya last year with an aim to increase the income of PACS, creating job opportunities, and providing affordable medicines, especially in rural areas. Mandaviya, along with Minister of State for Cooperation and Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) BL Verma, are also likely to address the conclave. The Jan Aushadhi Kendras are already operational across the country, offering a variety of medicines and medical devices at significantly lower prices (50 to 90 per cent cheaper) compared to branded alternatives.

More than 2000 types of generic medicines and around 300 surgical items are made available through these Kendras to common citizens at affordable prices.

However, allowing PACS as PMBJAKS will provide new opportunities to PACS for diversification and expansion of their economic activities, thus leading to increase in the incomes of millions of small and marginal farmers associated with them.

Moreover,  the network of the PMBJAKS will also expand.

“More than 4400 PACS/Cooperative Societies from 34 States/UTs have submitted their online applications on the Government’s Department of Pharmaceuticals portal for this initiative, out of which, more than 2300 cooperative societies have already received initial approval and 146 of them are ready to function as Jan Aushadhi Kendras,” said an official from the NCDC.