Take stringent steps against milk adulteration: NDRI body

Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 27

Members of the NDRI Graduate Association (NGA), an association of NDRI alumni, have suggested the Union government to take stringent steps to check the menace of milk adulteration for the health of the people.

The government should strictly implement law to curb the menace, they said, and suggested a provision of social boycott of the people involved in this illegal activity. Ashok K Rao, general secretary, SS Maan, executive member, and Dr Ajay Sharma, treasurer of the association, demanded the Union government to keep away the routine dairy products from the GST, which may lead to hike in rates.

“No doubt, India is at top with the production of around 146 million tonne of milk, but still face challenge in maintaining its quality,” said Rao.

He maintained: “The milk products of our country do not compete with international standard leading to economy and reputation loss.” Less availability of feed and fodder, value addition of milk products and only 30 per cent processing of milk in organised sectors were the main challenges in the dairy sector of the country, which should be resolved by the government as well as the dairy farmers, he said.

Mann said that there was a need to start a crusade to make the farmers aware about the quality of milk.

“No doubt, there is a quality control authority named FSSAI, but the effective implementation of the act at the grass roots level can only bring down the menace of adulteration,” he suggested.

Dr Sharma said that now the dairy industry had been paying taxes on dairy products except milk from 5 to 15 per cent, but after the implementation of the GST, there would be a single tax that might be around 15-18 per cent.

“We have suggested the government to keep the dairy products outside the purview of the GST,” he said.

Efforts should be made to bring milk processing from unorganised sector to the organised sector, he said.