People walk past a closed sugar mill in the eastern Indian city of Patna January 22, 2012. When India launched reforms to open up its state-stifled economy 20 years ago, many states surged ahead, leaving behind the 3.5 percent “Hindu rate of growth” that had plagued the decades after the country’s independence from Britain in 1947, and with it Bihar. Picture taken January 22, 2012. To match Insight INDIA-BIHAR/ REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA – Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT)
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Bihar Cooperative Minister Pramod Kumar on Tuesday (December 30, 2025) said that two sugar mills will be run by the Cooperative department as part of the State government’s decision to revive old sugar mills besides setting up new ones in the state as part of its “Saat Nischay” programme.
“We have received a proposal in this regard. As and when the cabinet clears it, we will let you know. The department has started its preparations in this regard. As part of government’s resolve under “Saat Nischay”, it has been decided to revive old sugar mills besides opening new ones and it was also decided that the two mills will be run by the cooperative department,” Mr. Kumar told reporters during a press conference held at his official chamber.
He was accompanied by the Department’s Secretary Dharmendra Singh, Additional Secretary Abhay Kumar Singh and other senior officials during the media interaction.
Once the sugar mills are transferred to the department, it is likely to run two sugar mills namely- Sakri in Madhubani district and Raiyam in Darbhanga district.
The department is at present engaged in constituting cooperative committees, especially how the committees will be formed and at what level besides how the DPR will be prepared.
“As and when the two sugar mills will be transferred to the Cooperative department, only then the department will proceed to make Mill-wise plans,“ said Cooperative Secretary Dharmendra Singh.
He added that a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary decided that the Cooperative department should work on operating two sugar mills, for which it is carrying out its preparations.
The Minister also informed that Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS) has, so far, procured 9.53 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from 1.32 lakh farmers across the state and Rs 1755 crore payment has been made to the farmers as “Minimum Support” (MSP).
“The State government has made the procurement of 9.53 lakh MT of paddy against the target of 36.85 lakh MT in the current Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) of 2025-26. The state government has written a letter to the centre to increase the limit of paddy procurement upto 45 lakh MT,” Mr. Kumar said.
In order to make the paddy procurement process transparent and its regular monitoring, the Minister asked all the District Magistrates to prepare a list of farmers interested in selling their produce (paddy) to PACS and give them a tentative date so that farmers can sell them on a designated day.
If needed, the DMs can open more procurement centres to accommodate more farmers, Mr. Kumar said and added that the department is running “IVRS call centre” for redressal of their grievances/problems. The toll free number is – 1800 1800 110. A total of 584 complaints have been received at call centres, mostly relating to grievances of paddy not being procured.
Mr. Kumar asserted that payments to the farmers are being made within 48 hours of procurement.
Sharing the further activities, the Minister said that the department will launch “membership-cum-awareness drive” at panchayat level from January 2, in order to create awareness among people about its schemes and also to carry out a membership drive of PACS.
He stated that there are 1.38 crore members of PACS across the State and Bihar is one of the States having highest members of PACS and all of them are active in all the panchayats.
He also said that PACS will be developed as a major service centre, while stating that PACS is currently providing 25 different types of services.
Published – December 31, 2025 01:37 am IST
