PACS presidents urge KTR to press Congress for cooperative elections

Presidents of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Telangana have urged BRS working president KT Rama Rao to press the Congress government to conduct elections to cooperative societies and banks without delay. They alleged that the continuation of nominated committees has weakened institutional autonomy, affecting crop and education loans.

Hyderabad: Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) presidents from across Telangana have urged BRS working president KT Rama Rao to exert pressure on the Congress government to immediately hold elections to cooperative societies and cooperative banks. They alleged that the delay was crippling the cooperative sector and affecting farmers’ access to credit.

The presidents met Rama Rao at Telangana Bhavan on Friday and explained the problems faced by cooperative institutions under nominated management committees. Responding to their appeal, he assured them that the BRS would extend support for holding elections and strengthening the cooperative sector.

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The representatives said the total business of cooperative banks had grown from about Rs 13,000 crore at the time of Telangana’s formation to Rs 60,000 crore during the decade-long BRS rule under K Chandrashekhar Rao. They said elected governing bodies and greater autonomy had helped institutions serve farmers more effectively.

However, the continuation of nominated committees under the Congress government had weakened their autonomy, they alleged. They also cited allegations that cooperative society posts were being allotted in return for payments ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh and sought an inquiry into the matter.

The presidents said the absence of elected management committees had left cooperative banks struggling to extend crop loans during the current season. Limited powers vested in chief executive officers were also hampering decisions on loans exceeding Rs 10 lakh, affecting district cooperative banks and credit to allied agricultural activities. They said students admitted to IITs and IIMs were facing difficulties in securing education loans through cooperative banks.

The representatives said the issue of restoring elected governing bodies was pending before the High Court. With the legal process taking time, they urged the government to initiate steps to conduct elections without further delay. They maintained that elected managements were essential to restore the institutions’ autonomy and ensure timely crop loans for farmers and education loans for students.