Bhopal: Congress state president Jitu Patwari on Sunday accused the BJP-led central and state govts of “robbing the local milk cooperative movement of its soul” by handing control over to bureaucrats.
He was reacting to an MoU signed between the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Madhya Pradesh Milk Federation in the presence of Union home and cooperative minister Amit Shah in Bhopal.
“The NDDB’s administration of milk federations in MP would rob the local milk cooperative movement of its soul. It’s not a business of milk but of democracy and self-reliance of local milk cooperative committees, too,” said Patwari.
Patwari said when the MoU was berig hyped as a revolutionary step to boost the cooperative movement in the state, he would like to ask the govt why election to cooperative bodies was being delayed in MP for years. “Does it not amount to stifling the democratic voice of farmers,” he asked.
Asking for a reply to his questions, Patwari demanded a ‘White Paper’ on the deal between NDDB and MP Milk Federation. The Congress leader said CM Mohan Yadav and cooperative minister Vishwas Sarang should also clarify why there was no discussion with the stakeholders including the farmers and representatives of cooperative bodies before signing of the MoU.
Referring to the slogan “One nation-one cooperative society”, Patwari wondered whether it was a conspiracy to rob the local cooperative bodies of their autonomy and diversity and said the union home and cooperative minister should clarify what it means.
He further said the brand name ‘Sanchi’ may not be changed but isn’t handing over the milk federations of Madhya Pradesh to NDDB for administration is obliquely paving the way for their privatisation. Which ‘milk lobby’ of Gujarat is being benefited by the move, he asked.
He said the BJP was in power in MP for 20 years but milk production in the state couldn’t reach 10 lakh litre a day, how does the government expect to double the production in next 5 years. Isn’t the state government showing a pipe dream to farmers, he asked.
Besides, he asked why the investment of Rs 1,447 crore towards increasing the milk production is not visible and why farmers are not being paid their due on time.
He further said that NDDB has swallowed several big brands in the past as well and wondered whether ‘Sanchi’ would be the next in line. Patwari said when rates of milk are not increasing even as input cost of milk production is increasing, how milk production could become a profitable business.
He was reacting to an MoU signed between the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Madhya Pradesh Milk Federation in the presence of Union home and cooperative minister Amit Shah in Bhopal.
“The NDDB’s administration of milk federations in MP would rob the local milk cooperative movement of its soul. It’s not a business of milk but of democracy and self-reliance of local milk cooperative committees, too,” said Patwari.
Patwari said when the MoU was berig hyped as a revolutionary step to boost the cooperative movement in the state, he would like to ask the govt why election to cooperative bodies was being delayed in MP for years. “Does it not amount to stifling the democratic voice of farmers,” he asked.
Asking for a reply to his questions, Patwari demanded a ‘White Paper’ on the deal between NDDB and MP Milk Federation. The Congress leader said CM Mohan Yadav and cooperative minister Vishwas Sarang should also clarify why there was no discussion with the stakeholders including the farmers and representatives of cooperative bodies before signing of the MoU.
Referring to the slogan “One nation-one cooperative society”, Patwari wondered whether it was a conspiracy to rob the local cooperative bodies of their autonomy and diversity and said the union home and cooperative minister should clarify what it means.
He further said the brand name ‘Sanchi’ may not be changed but isn’t handing over the milk federations of Madhya Pradesh to NDDB for administration is obliquely paving the way for their privatisation. Which ‘milk lobby’ of Gujarat is being benefited by the move, he asked.
He said the BJP was in power in MP for 20 years but milk production in the state couldn’t reach 10 lakh litre a day, how does the government expect to double the production in next 5 years. Isn’t the state government showing a pipe dream to farmers, he asked.
Besides, he asked why the investment of Rs 1,447 crore towards increasing the milk production is not visible and why farmers are not being paid their due on time.
He further said that NDDB has swallowed several big brands in the past as well and wondered whether ‘Sanchi’ would be the next in line. Patwari said when rates of milk are not increasing even as input cost of milk production is increasing, how milk production could become a profitable business.
