PACS’ tenure to be extended?

Basheerabad: The state government is apparently toying with the idea of increasing the tenure of the governing bodies of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Ranga Reddy district again by six months. 

It may be recalled that the tenure of the PACS in the mandal expired on February 3, 2018. Their tenure has been extended then. The extended tenure is going to expire by August 3. The tenure has been extended on account of delay in holding the elections to the PACS. Officials are now gearing up to issue orders to increase the tenure further by six months. The orders are likely to reach here in two or three days. Consequently, the existing governing body will rule the PACS till February 2019. 

The names of the presidents, person in-charges and members of the PACS have been sent to higher authorities by district cooperative department officials. Several aspirants to run for the office of the PACS nursed hopes to contest the cooperative polls, which are supposed to be held six monhs ago. But the government chose to extend the tenure pouring cold water on their aspirations. Since the government has plans to extend the tenure by another six months, political circles are agog that the elections to the PACS will be held only after the general elections to be held next year. 

The government wants to hold the polls to the PACS revising the voters list, amending the cooperative act, reform the PACS and strengthen the societies and then hold polls to them. There are no tell-tale signs of holding the polls till the completion of the process. The existing members of the PACS got the bonus period of one year to enjoy power additionally. They are jubilant at the extension of their tenure. 

There are 49 PACS in undivided Ranga Reddy district, including 22 in Vikarabad district. Barring the society at Peddemul, tenure of the rest of the PACS is going to be increased. For reasons best known to officials, the governing body of the Peddemul PACS has been annulled leading to officials running the affairs of the society.