Milk Supply Initiative for Students
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka announced on Saturday that the state government will soon supply milk from the state-owned Vijaya Dairy to over 27 lakh students enrolled in all government schools and anganwadi centers. The announcement came after a high-level review meeting at the secretariat, where the feasibility of the initiative was discussed with Animal Husbandry Minister Vakiti Srihari and senior officials.
Review Meeting Highlights
During the meeting, discussions centered on milk consumption patterns across the state, milk procurement processes, and pending payments owed to dairy farmers. Bhatti directed officials to compile accurate statistics on the state's total milk production and instructed them to conduct field visits to identify the actual number of milch animals and calculate real milk production. A comprehensive report is expected at the next meeting.
Ensuring Timely Payments to Farmers
Bhatti emphasized the need for a clear pricing policy for milk procured from dairy farmers and insisted on prompt payment of bills without any pending dues. He stated, “There should be a clear policy regarding the price being paid for milk procured from dairy farmers. The farmers’ bills should be paid promptly without any pending dues. Also, payments for milk supplied to schools should be transferred directly by the welfare departments to the concerned agencies. This would ensure that no dues remain pending to farmers.”
Supporting Rural Livelihoods
Highlighting the dependence of many rural families on the dairy industry, the Deputy Chief Minister noted that timely payments would strengthen farmers' families financially and encourage continued milk supply to dairies with confidence. He advocated for adopting modern methods to enhance profitability and significantly boost milk production in Telangana, and stressed the need to provide farmers with additional livelihood opportunities through the dairy sector beyond agriculture.
Government Commitment
Bhatti reaffirmed the Congress government's commitment to supporting dairy farmers, citing Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's assurance of providing economic security to them. He said, “The Congress govt is taking all steps to support farmers who depend on the dairy industry for their livelihood and to financially strengthen the state-run Vijaya Dairy.”
