Mohan Majhi government plans to strengthen cooperative movement in Odisha in a big way

The Mohan Majhi Government has unveiled the ambitious Odisha State Cooperative Policy, 2025, aimed at strengthening the cooperative movement in the State. A key feature of the policy is the creation of a unified marketing brand—under the name of either Utkal or Kalinga—to promote Odisha’s products in international markets.

In addition, the State plans to introduce cooperative education in schools and colleges, integrating cooperative values and principles into the academic curriculum. Modules will be developed on cooperatives as part of vocational education at the secondary level.

The draft policy copy says the State would strive to establish 30 model cooperative villages (one per district) by 2030 and develop sectoral cooperative clusters in millets, pulses, dairy, fisheries, coffee, handicrafts, and spices by 2036.

It plans to launch of a strong umbrella ‘Utkal/Kalinga Brand’ to showcase Odisha’s cooperative products, making its presence felt in national and international markets. The policy moots revival of the ‘Kalinga Pure’ brand. The State will provide design, packaging, and quality certification support to cooperatives to meet modern market standards.

The cooperative movements, as per the policy, will help increase farmers’ income and rural employment through diversification and market expansion.

As per the State government, Odisha has currently around 8000 cooperatives spreading across different sectors like – agricultural credit, diary, fisheries, poultry, handlooms, handicrafts, textiles, tribal development, housing, consumer and employees welfare having a membership base of about one crore.

“The most active and talked about cooperatives in the State, as on date, are the cooperatives in Agri-credit sector. There are now 4,252 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Large-Sized Adivasi Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS), 17 District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), and the Odisha State Cooperative Bank (OSCB) operational in this key sector,” says the draft report.

According to policy projections, Odisha plans to have a satellite centre of National Tribhuban Cooperative University (TCU) set up in the State while the regional training institutes of Odisha State Cooperative Union (OSCU) will be upgraded and affiliated to TCU.

Certified courses may be provided to cooperative managers and employees in partnership with universities in Odisha, State Cooperative Training Institutes and national-level bodies.