Milk producers stick to demands, begins stir

Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Sangam today began a state wide indefinite strike demanding increase in procurement price.

“There is no question of calling off the stir unless the procurement price is increased,” the Sangam president K A Sengottuvel told PTI.

The procurement price of cow’s milk should be increased to Rs 30 from the present Rs 23 a litre. Similarly buffalo milk’s price must be increased to Rs 40 from Rs 31, he said.

There are a host of other demands like incentive of Rs 4 per litre, compensation to milk producers, who lost cattle due to Foot and Mouth Disease.

Sengottuvel said the strike was being observed across Tamil Nadu “to fight for the just cause of 5 lakh small milk producers” affiliated to 8000 Milk Producing Cooperative Societies (MPCS).

Also, the grievances of 24,000 employees in village level MPCS should be addressed, he said.

“By evening today, Aavin (State-run TN Co-op Milk Producers Federation which procures milk) will face a shortage of 5 lakh litres,” he claimed.

Aavin Managing Director Sunil Paliwal told PTI that milk producers should “see reason” as only recently Rs 3 was increased (procurement price) by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

“Concessional fodder is being provided. Depending on profitability, incentive is given in milk producing unions.” he said. On the shortage, he said “it is very very marginal“.

Demonstrations were held in many places including Salem, Dharmapuri, Tirupur, Coimbatore and Villupuram. Milk was poured on the road in several towns symbolising protest.

Aavin procures about 22 lakh litres of milk everyday from 8000 MPCS operating under 17 District Cooperative Milk Producers Unions.

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