By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The recent hike in the price of milk by Rs5 by the Milkmen Association, Shillong w.e.f. March 1 has earned severe criticism from all over the city. Milk consumers say that the hike is uncalled for and blamed the state government for allowing the milkmen to run their free trade without any grip over them.
The rate of a litre of milk will now be available at Rs33 instead of Rs28. The milkmen association has reasoned that the increase is due to hike in rates of cattle feeds and other essential commodities. But a housewife from the fruit Garden area of the city said, “Even if they sell a litre of milk for Rs50 the quality is not going to change.”
Another resident said that the hike by Rs5 is uncalled for since recently they had hiked the price of milk. “I would like to ask the milkmen association the reason behind this hike since it has become a trend to raise the price of milk every year on some pretext or the other,” she said.
These consumers said that the hike in cattle feeds that the milkmen association is reasoning is an eyewash since rampant milk adulteration is going on right under the nose of the authorities and yet they are unable to do anything. These residents said that Meghalaya tops the list of adulterated milk supply in the country.
It is pertinent to mention here that the quality is no different even in the state run dairies as a recent national survey conducted on milk adulteration by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found that 96% of milk samples from Meghalaya were either diluted with water or mixed with harmful detergents.
“In the face of this finding, I want to ask the government and the milkmen association, is it justified to go ahead with this hike. What authority does the government have on these suppliers,” questioned many milk consumers from across the city.Agrees an elderly lady and said that the days of pure milk has become a thing of the past. “I have decided to change my milk supplier since my two grandchildren need milk everyday at least twice. But there is no guarantee whether the new supplier will supply good quality milk,” she said.
These residents even alleged that the private milkmen are having a free run in this trade as there is none to control them. With adulterated milk these residents alleged that such milk is not suitable for human consumption.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that the Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department recently said that these milkmen are commissioning agents and is controlled by his department and if anybody has any complaint then they should come forward and lodge complaint with him.
Hwever, milk consumers on the other hand questioned, when the FSSAI has found that 96% of milk samples are diluted in the state then what complaint is the Director waiting for.