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| Hostile policies mar milk industry in JK | | | Mohit Puria
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 8 : Hostile policies of the government have marred the milk industry in the state.
The milk farmer community of Jammu & Kashmir held government responsible for deteriorating state of milk farmers' fraternity.
Approximately, 12 years ago, in the year 2003, Mufti Government took an initiative to uplift milk farmers and in this respect, India's leading milk brand, Amul made a bid to help farmers to get dependable market. Amul proposed to install two milk plants i.e. at Satwari in Jammu and Chashmeshahi in Kashmir but due to hostile policies and management, proposed plant installation project was dumped.
It is mandatory to mention here that Jammu and Kashmir is facing worst ever financial crisis, since Governor NN Vohra took over the administration of the state.
The Governor is running pillar to post to get the funds to accomplish various pending developmental project works including salaries to Govt employees. Government treasuries are running dry resulting in escalating of problems of people. It is difficult to understand that one side state heads appease INCs to invest in the state and on the other side, rigid norms and regulations are set up for the industries which act as barriers in the way of development of industries and state as well.
Industries get scared to install industries in the state as they are afraid of unfair treatment from state government by placing barriers in their operational work.
In the year 2003, on the persistent request of Former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd Sayeed, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the proprietors of the famous Amul brand agreed to be a partner in the development of J&K by launching a project in Jammu & Kashmir on the lines of Anand Milk Marketing Federation to boost milk revolution by extending help to milk farmers. In this regard, Chairman GCMMF, Varghese Kurien categorically elucidated that the main beneficiaries of the project must be basic milk growers who do not get a steady market.
He mentioned that GCMMF might take over, the ailing state-run milk plant located at Cheshma Shahi, located on Srinagar's Zabarwan hills. The then, Lt. Gen GV Patankar has also offered to consume entire production of the plant through the Srinagar-based 15-Corp. But barriers which were put before GCMMF forced Amul to shut the plants of Satwari and Chashmeshahi. Successive governments were not serious to bring industries in the state for the development so that state shuns looking at central government to get funds for giving salaries to employees and other developmental works. Until and unless, government changes policies and make norms easy to set up industries, industries would hesitate to invest in the state.
Farmers in this regard have expressed their resentment against the policies of government. They said that price control by Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department don't allow them to sell milk products at legitimate price which leads to plunge in milk sector. "Jammu milk farmers produce more than 250,000 litres of milk every day and we are not allowed to sell as per price as it is sold in other states of India. Cooperative can help us, once government allows them to open plants in the state but hostile approach of government leads us to live miserable life" a farmer said.
They said that framing policies which attracts industries need to be set up and now it's high time to get industries in J&K as the state is facing worst ever financial crisis that even looks constraint to pay salaries to its employees. "Cooperative society like Amul can change the fortune of milk producers in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Governor Rule is prevailing in the state and he can boost up milk sector by inviting cooperatives in the state", they added.
State has been facing financial crisis for long time and the main reason behind of financial scarcity is having no industry in J&K state. Although, Successive Chief Ministers of state invited industries to elevate the process of development and to make state financially independent to some extent but they failed to make easy norms and regulations which couldn't convince INCs to install industries in the state. If state leaders are really concerned for the betterment of state, then they need to invite industries to invest here by easing norms and policies so that state can stand on its own feet to some extent. |
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