The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Milk producers take to the streets

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Milk producers take to the streets

G.V. Ramana Rao

‘Curbs’ placed by A.P. Dairy Development Cooperative Federation the trigger

State urged to stop harassing producers’ cooperative unions
Seek lifting of ban placed on use of Vijaya brand

Photo: Ch. VIJAYA BHASKAR

Rallying point: Milk producers of Krishna and West Godavari districts participate in a rally organised by the Krishna Milk Union at Hanuman Junction in Krishna district on Tuesday.. —

HANUMAN JUNCTION: Thousands of dairy farmers did not mind getting drenched in an incessant drizzle while participating in a rally here on Tuesday to register their protest against the restrictions placed allegedly by the Government-controlled A.P. Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (APDDCF) on the Krishna Milk Union on using Vijaya brand for its products.

In a show of strength, dairy farmers from Krishna district and leaders of various cooperative dairies from all over the State met here demanding that the Government stop “harassing” milk producers’ cooperative unions and revoke the restrictions placed on the use of Vijaya brand by the unions.

The farmers carried placards declaring their loyalty to Krishna Milk Union chairman Mandava Janakiramaiah and their wrath against the Government for “harassing” them.

Harassment alleged

The rally began at milk chilling centre and culminated at the four-road junction where traffic coming from Vijayawada, Eluru, Nuzvid and Gudivada converges.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Janakiramaiah alleged that the Government had started harassing the union after the High Court ruled in its favour in the case pertaining to dismissal of elected cooperatives.

As a part of this harassment, milking chilling centres of West Godavari district, which were handed over to the Krishna union by the APDDCF seven years ago, had been ‘unceremoniously’ taken back. Not stopping with that, the Government had even placed restrictions on the use of Vijaya brand, which, he claimed, was “created and popularised by farmers of Krishna district four decades ago.”

Maintaining that the brand was born in Vijayawada, Mr. Janakiramaiah said APDDCF, acting as the apex body of milk unions, got the brand registered and was today claiming total ownership.

Unless milk producers fought with unity, “destruction” of milk unions would not stop. Karimnagar Milk Union chairman Rajeswara Rao said dairy farmers had always worked hard and generated wealth.

He said the Government was accusing milk producers of benefiting from valuable assets, but the question that needed to be asked was about the assets it was giving away to industrialists, partymen and relatives. Guntur Milk Producers Union (Sangam Dairy) chairman Kilaru Rajan Babu recalled that the dairy sector was born in Krishna district, mainly in areas around Vijayawada.

The sector was developed primarily for catering to the needs of consumers and for employment generation. But after the farmers got interested in it, the sector had started developing very quickly. Ongole Milk Union Chairman Challa Srinivasa Rao said Vijaya brand belonged to the milk producers and it was morally wrong on the part of the federation to seize products of Krishna Milk Union being marketed with the brand.

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