THE milk producers are on a struggle since last 3 months in Himachal Pradesh.  Under the banner of Himachal Kisan Sabha (HKS) - an affiliate of AIKS, this movement is being led. This is fought in 6 blocks of the state that produce largest quantity of milk. More than 1 lakh litres of milk is produced in these 6 blocks. The milk is sold to the state milk federation through the milk producing societies which buys directly from the milk producers.

Milk is also consumed in the regional bazaars and also bought by some of the private milk traders who own and run milk plants. The milk producers get a price of Rs 14-20 per litre. This price is cheaper than the water being sold in the market. Though the same milk after extracting fat twice from it –double toned, is sold to the consumers at the price of Rs 45 –50 per litre. The minimum support price announced by the government is Rs 16.77 per litre for 3.0 fat and 7.3 SNF (solid not fat). If the fat content is less than 3.0, then such milk is not purchased by the milk federation. The highest price for milk with 5.0 fat and 8.0 SNF is Rs 26.09. The average price that the milk producers get is Rs 16-18.  

The estimated cost of production of milk in Himachal is Rs 20. Hence the minimum support price should be Rs 30. Then the producers will get a profit of Rs 10 per litre. Majority of the milk producers are poor and medium kisans.

 In the state 86.87 percent are poor kisans. Forty eight percent have less than one acre land and majority of them are into milk production. More women are linked to milk production than their male counterparts. They do the more labour with respect to cattle, fodder, cleaning etc. Every year 5 women die in the mountains while fetching fodder for the cattle. The cost of cattle and its rearing has also gone up. The price of feed, bran, fodder, medicines etc all have increased. This has  increased the cost of milk production as well.

Once or twice in a month owing to souring of milk, the producers are not paid the money. Though the sour milk gets converted into cheese and sold by them ! There is corruption even in the milk producing societies. Payment to the kisans is not paid on time. This has led to large scale resentment amongst the milk producers.

The government veterinary hospitals have very little staff, the vets are hardly found. There is non availability of medicines, semen, nitrogen, which leads either to death of a cow or animal’s sterility. Many of the milk producers are in huge debt. The BJP had promised in its election manifesto for the state, that they will enhance the MSP of milk. But just Re 1 was raised.

The kisan sabha prepared a plan and organized the milk producers in 6 blocks. A convention was called in the beginning in Rampur on the issue of milk. This was held on April 25, 2018. Kisan sabha units of Rampur, Anni, Nirmand, Nankhari, Narkanda and Karsog and a few other kisans participated in this convention. After discussion on different demands it was decided to make this as a major issue of the kisans. It was decided to have milk producers in the kisan sabha and build their movement. Block level conventions were planned.

After a day’s convention in each block a demand day was announced for May 11. The demand charter was submitted to the sub-divisional officer and protest demonstrations were held. The government was given an ultimatum till June 2 to intervene. In the meantime separate meetings of milk producing women were held in the blocks. This had a great impact on the consciousness of the people. The women through their own ‘mahila mandals’ took a decision to not to sell milk to private buyers and would fine the individual who sells it to them.

The demonstration on June 2 was a big success in which more than 500 women participated and blocked the Hindustan –Tibet national highway 22 for 1 hour.  Similar demonstrations were held in other blocks as well, in which 250-300 women participated.

The administration swung into action and started sending the milk collecting vehicles to those areas where they were not going earlier. However the price of milk was not enhanced. The kisans decided to further hold another action on July 16 at Duttnagar in Rampur milk plant.

A mass campaign was unleashed on the following demands:  declare Rs 30 as the MSP for milk; the remittance of the money to the milk producers must be made latest by 7^th of every month; fill in the staff in veterinary hospitals and dispensaries; ensure high quality semen for fertilization of cows; ensure that proper medicines are available at the dispensaries; in the ration depots feed, fodder and bran should be made available for the kisans.

On July 16, hundreds of kisans participated in the protest demonstration. The milk plant at Duttnagar was picketed and the gates had to be opened by the management for a dialogue with the kisan leaders. The management has assured to fulfill the demands concerning the block level at the earliest. Meanwhile the kisan sabha has given another call for August 9, to hold a larger demonstration at the same venue. The demands of the milk producers will be the main focus of this demonstration. This issue has become a mass issue in which women have become natural leaders. The women themselves make arrangements for their mobilizations and meetings.