Milkmen rue losses due to restrictions

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 25

Members of the Milkmen Union, Bathinda, have said they are suffering losses after Verka started supplying milk on the doorsteps of residents.

Milkmen said they were already delivering milk on the doorstep of residents and why did the administration asked them not to do so overnight? Milkmen from various villages said the curfew, which was imposed to contain the Covid spread, has hit their business hard.

Though the government has taken a decision to start providing essential items on the doorstep of residents, the move has not gone down well with milkmen in the district.

Jarnail Singh, president of the union, said, "Milkmen have been providing milk on the doorstep for a long time. Now curfew has been imposed due to the Covid scare and our services are not required all of a sudden. While door-to-door delivery of milk is continued in other districts, it has been stopped in Bathinda."

He said, "We wanted to bring the matter to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and submit a memorandum of demands in this regard, but police personnel did not allow us to do so citing the curfew restrictions. We have been getting calls from customers that their children do not drink packaged milk. We request the administration that it should provide curfew passes to us so that our livelihood does not get affected."

Verka has been assigned the work of supplying milk on the doorstep of city residents.

DC B Srinivasan has asked Verka to increase the number of vans so that milk can be delivered at every house. He has exhorted city residents to maintain social distancing while collecting milk. Rakesh Gupta, general manager, Verka milk plant, Bathinda, said Verka anyone could approach them on helpline numbers 79863-74065, 80546-40669 and 97818-00354.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.