Milkfed Officials Suspended After Army Rejects Contaminated Milk Powder Consignments
In a significant development, three senior officials from the Ludhiana District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, operating under Milkfed, have been suspended with immediate effect. This action follows the Indian Army's rejection of two consignments of milk powder due to non-compliance with prescribed quality standards.
Suspension Orders Issued for Key Managers
The suspended officials include Daljit Singh, the general manager, along with Paritosh Mishra, the production manager, and Guriqbal Singh, the quality manager. Separate suspension orders were issued on Friday by Milkfed managing director Rahul Gupta. The order cited Rule 62.1 (i) of the Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Employees Rules, 2023, stating that disciplinary proceedings are being contemplated.
Army Rejects Consignments Over Quality Lapses
The Indian Army rejected two consignments of milk powder, totaling approximately 125 metric tonnes, supplied by the Ludhiana unit. Specifically, the consignments weighed 58.338 metric tonnes and 66.654 metric tonnes. According to official documents, the samples were found to contain extraneous material, with white thread noticed in the analysis. This breach in quality control has been labeled as a "major misconduct" and an act prejudicial to the organization.
The rejection was formally communicated in a letter from the Officer Commanding of an Army Service Corps unit based in Jammu to the Ludhiana District Cooperative Milk Producers Union. Copies of this communication have been forwarded to the chief director of Purchase and the Food Inspection Organisation under the Union Ministry of Defence.
Impact on Milkfed's Credibility
The suspension order emphasized that this lapse compromised the credibility of Milkfed, highlighting neglect of work and negligence in the performance of duties. The incident raises concerns about quality assurance processes within the cooperative, potentially affecting future contracts and consumer trust.
This case underscores the stringent quality standards enforced by the Indian Army for procurement and the serious consequences for suppliers failing to meet these requirements. Milkfed, as a key player in the dairy sector, faces scrutiny over its internal controls and compliance mechanisms.
