The Hindu : New Delhi News : Housewives seek rollback of increase in milk prices

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 28, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Housewives seek rollback of increase in milk prices

Parul Sharma

NEW DELHI: Describing the latest increase in milk prices in the Capital as an "anti-people" move, many housewives and citizens have demanded an immediate rollback of the hike.

Pointing out that this was the third time in the past one year that milk prices had been raised, the housewives complained that it had completely upset their monthly household budgets, already hit hard by the increase in the prices of pulses, oils, onions and other edible items.

Mother Dairy raised the prices of all varieties of milk, including full cream, standardised and skimmed milk, by one rupee this past Wednesday. It was only in February and September last year that the co-operative had increased the prices of milk in the city.

According to reports, Mother Dairy is likely to increase the prices of its milk products like curds and cheese next month.

"As it is, the prices of essential commodities like vegetables, fruits and pulses have skyrocketed in the past one year. Now the hike in milk prices will hurt the budget even more. Onions that one could get for Rs.10 per kg are now selling at Rs.20. Pulses that are part of our staple diet are being sold for Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 a kg. Prices of wheat and rice have also almost doubled. What is the Government doing to put an end to all this?" asked Ranjana Puri, a resident of South Delhi.

"Schoolchildren are going to be the worst hit as the increase in milk prices will soon be followed by a rise in the prices of milk related products like pure ghee, sweets and ice creams," rued Rita Banerjee, a resident of East Delhi.

"We strongly oppose this hike. Milk prices were hiked last September and within five months this is the second hike. It will put an additional burden on the household budgets. The Capital is becoming an expensive city to live in. Both the Central and State Governments have failed in checking inflation," said V. K. Arora, a member of United Residents' Joint Action (URJA). Tea stall owners are also contemplating a hike in the price of tea. "As of now we have not increased the rates but we may have to do it in the wake of this recent hike in milk prices," said Raju, owner of a kiosk.

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