Bhopal: PACS Polls In Limbo Amid Legal & Administrative Hurdles

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The much-awaited elections for Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) in Madhya Pradesh remain in limbo due to a complex web of legal, administrative and procedural issues.

Farmers across the state continue to demand that PACS be freed from control of administrators and be managed by elected representatives, who are more accountable to the farming community.

A senior official from the Cooperative Department said that Government of India envisions having one PACS in every panchayat. However, currently, a single PACS often caters to 15 to 20 panchayats.

Conducting elections under the existing structure could impede formation of new PACS aligned with this vision. The matter is sub-judice, and the department has already submitted its reply in the High Court and awaits further directions.

Meanwhile, the State Cooperative Election Authority had asked all PACS—most of which are being run by government-appointed administrators—to submit updated voter lists by May 1, in order to initiate the election process. However, most PACS are yet to comply. Of the 4,536 PACS in state, elections have been conducted in only 19—on High Court orders—while the rest await poll dates.

Experts in the cooperative sector said that PACS elections have not been held since 2017. First, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the process, and then the state assembly and Lok Sabha elections delayed the matter. In absence of elected bodies, cooperative inspectors were appointed as administrators. These administrators, experts say, are not as accountable to the public as elected chairpersons, who are regularly questioned by farmers over issues such as availability of fertilisers, seeds, loans and Kisan Credit Cards.

Sources claim that administrators are deliberately delaying the submission of voter lists, citing ongoing wheat procurement from farmers as a higher priority.

The issue of delayed PACS elections was also raised by the Opposition during the recent Budget Session in the State Assembly. In response, the government had assured the House that elections would be conducted soon. However, the wait continues.