Thu Sep 25 23:50:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Headline: Odisha Unveils Ambitious Cooperative Policy to Boost Rural Economy**

**Bhubaneswar, Odisha – September 26, 2025** – The Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has launched the Odisha State Cooperative Policy, 2025, a comprehensive plan aimed at revitalizing the state’s cooperative sector and boosting the rural economy. The policy, revealed today, focuses on strengthening cooperative societies and expanding their reach into both national and international markets.

A central pillar of the initiative is the creation of a unified marketing brand, likely to be named “Utkal” or “Kalinga,” designed to promote Odisha’s diverse range of cooperative products on a global scale. This will include support for design, packaging, and quality certification to ensure these products meet modern market standards. The policy aims to revive the previously successful ‘Kalinga Pure’ brand.

Beyond marketing, the policy emphasizes education. Cooperative values and principles will be integrated into the school and college curriculum, including vocational training at the secondary level.

The state government has set ambitious goals, aiming to establish 30 model cooperative villages (one per district) by 2030 and to develop sectoral cooperative clusters in key areas like millets, pulses, dairy, fisheries, coffee, handicrafts, and spices by 2036.

According to the state government, Odisha has around 8000 cooperatives.The State now has 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).

The policy document also outlines plans for enhanced training and education within the cooperative sector. Odisha intends to establish a satellite center of the National Tribhuban Cooperative University (TCU) within the state. Regional training institutes affiliated with the Odisha State Cooperative Union (OSCU) will be upgraded and affiliated with TCU. Certified courses will be offered to cooperative managers and employees in collaboration with universities and training institutes across the state.

The government hopes that these initiatives will increase farmers’ income, create rural employment opportunities, and diversify the agricultural sector. With approximately one crore members across 8,000 cooperatives in sectors ranging from agriculture and dairy to handlooms and tribal development, the Odisha State Cooperative Policy, 2025, represents a significant investment in the state’s rural future.

Read More