The Short Term Co-operative Credit Structure, a three tier structure, consists of the West Bengal State Co-operative Bank Ltd. at the State level with its three Regional Offices and 17 affiliated Central Co-operative Banks operating at the district/sub-division level as the middle tier and Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Societies (PACS) operating as the base at Gram Panchayat/village level with affiliation to the Central Cooperative Banks.
The primary objective of the STCCS is to dispense short-term crop loan to the farmers, mainly small and marginal including landless share croppers for a term not exceeding one year. Besides, medium-term loans for farm, farm allied and non-farm activities are issued for a tenure exceeding one year to five years. The focus of the STCCS is promotion of diversified agriculture, cottage & small-scale industries, allied farm activities viz aqua-culture, animal husbandry, horticulture, sericulture and such other business, services and activities for development of the rural areas. Thrift, small savings, self-help and financial inclusion is encouraged and nurtured as well. Creation of infrastructure for storage for agricultural inputs and processing and marketing of agricultural produce are other thrust areas with the objective of income augmentation and employment generation. The STCCS also offers regular financial services to the general public.
The State Government extends regular financial support to strengthen the financials of the STCCS entities in order to augment their capacities in a more effective manner.