HUNDREDS of milk producers under the banner of Himachal Pradesh Dudh Utpadak Sangh(Milk Producers Association) held a massive demonstration in Duttnagar, in Rampur subdivision, under Shimla district. On March 7, the milk producers, mostly women, gathered in front of the Duttnagar office of Himachal Milk Processing Centre and submitted a memorandum through the sub-divisional officer to the chief minister of the state. The major demand is for an enhanced support price for milk at Rs 40 per litre.
The dharna at the site later turned out to be a public meeting that was attended by leaders of the milk producers. The HP Dudh Utpadak Sangh is affiliated with the All India Kisan Sabha. The public meeting warned the state government to affirmatively consider the demands of the milk producers, else they will be forced to launch more vigorous agitations in the future.
The speakers informed that milk production has become a loss-making work for the large number of milk producers owing to two reasons: the first one being the rising cost of animal feed and rising costs for raising the cattle; and the second, the support price announced by the government is too low. The government currently provides a support price of Rs 21 per litre for milk with 3 per cent fat and 7.3 per cent SNF(Solids-Not-Fat), and for milk with 5.5 per cent fat and 8.5 per cent SNF at Rs 32.97 per litre. The same quality milk is sold in the market for Rs 50 and Rs 60 respectively.
The memorandum submitted to the chief minister pointed out that 90 per cent of the population in the state are living in rural habitats. Agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry are the main sources of income for the peasant population. But in some regions, animal husbandry is the main source of income and milk production is the only form of such income. There are innumerable problems linked to cattle and the state government has actually withdrawn many of the facilities provided earlier. It may be mentioned here that the quality of milk produced in the state, especially in those areas where cattle are left out for grazing in the natural grasslands of the Himalayas, is of a very high value. However, the government instead of recognising this still works with the conventional formulae of fat and SNF.
The speakers also narrated that the milk producers do not get their payment on time from the milk federation and there are very few collection centres. The kisans have to carry milk far away from their homes and then give it to these collection centres. This consumes a good lot of time of the milk producers in a day.
The main demands raised in the memorandum include: -

•     Announce a minimum support price for milk at Rs 40 per litre.
•     The milk producers must get their payments before the 10th of every month.
•     Animal husbandry must be promoted and the government must ensure the distribution of cattle feed through the public distribution system.
•     Every society of the milk producers must be provided with a machine to measure their quality of milk and should not be left to the mercy of buyers, both public and private.
•     New collection centres must be opened at the block levels.
•     Good quality artificial insemination and semen must be available, along with cattle medicines, at the veterinary centres.
•     The vacant posts of vets, and technicians at the veterinary centres must be filled up immediately.
•     Ensure a budget of Rs 50 crore for the state milk federation.
•     Open new chilling plants at Nogli and Kotlu.
•     Measure the quantity and quality of milk at the chilling plant sites to ensure transparency.