The All India Kisan Sabha is geared up for protest on August 1 after learning the Maha Vikas Aghadi playing tricks with dairy farmers
@santosheemishra
Mumbai: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), a left-minded organization for farmers has decided to protest for dairy farmers on August 1 by pouring milk on streets across the state of Maharashtra. The AIKS organization had demanded a subsidy of Rs.10 per litre along with special package to offset the losses of dairy farmers amid COVID-19. The AIKS has learnt that the state government has planned to continue with the same policy for farmers instead of reviving it for the benefits of dairy farmers.
Dr Ajit Navale the leader of organization has threatened ruling government of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) not to underestimate the power of poor famers in the state. The leader claimed that the earlier Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Devendra Fadnavis has faced the heat in elections as it failed to satisfy farmers across the state.
While talking to TheNews21 Dr Navale said, “It seems that they are not in mood to resolve issues of dairy farmers. In the tough times of pandemic crisis , when the sale of milk has dipped down and dairy farmers are not just in loss but unable to meet their daily needs .The farmers are totally ignored by this government. As I feel that Uddhav Thackeray led MVA government does not desire to fix issues of dairy farmers. They are only thinking about their own benefits and have forgotten that it is only because of the failure to meet demands of farmers the previous BJP government was not only criticised but it also affected its election results also. We are going ahead with the protest on August 1, as the government has no plan of revival amid COVID-19 for dairy farmers.”
He added further, “The government is ensuring benefits do not reach to farmers. It is purchasing milk for dairy cooperatives which is hardly 25-30% in the state. This will benefit politicians who are directly or indirectly connected with the dairies however with no benefit to the dairy farmer. They are not including private dairies involved in purchase of milk, it will increase the volume of buyers and the farmers will be benefitted in the end. The milk powder which is the subject of Union government it can hold for now. At present the instant relief is needed for farmers. We have more than requirement milk powder in our ware house and the central government in its notification has planned to import more of milk powder giving rise total loss to the dairy economy. “
Amid lockdown the prices of milk have dropped as the demand has reduced. Before lockdown the dairy farmers were getting price of milk by the state government from Rs.30-35 Rs per litre however amid lockdown prices dip to Rs.17-18 per litre.
According to the AIKS organization Sunil Kedar minister for Animal Husbandry had promised dairy farmers to buy 10lakh liters milk after protest in Ahmednagar, Sangli and Kolhapur during lockdown. The Minister Sunil Kedar had announced that the state government will purchase 10-lakh liters milk and the farmers will be paid Rs. 20-25 per liters .This purchased milk will be done by the state government dairy co-operatives.
Dr Navale added, “Later the government discontinued buying 10-lakh liters milk per day instead it started purchasing 6-lakh liters per day and even paying less price from Rs.25 per litre to Rs 17 per liters thus farmers in the last week protested.”
