Pune: Maharashtra Farmers Prepare for ‘Milk Dindi’ Demanding Fair Prices

Pune, 29th June 2024: Various farmers’ organizations have decided to hold a ‘Milk Dindi’ to demand that the milk-producing farmers of Maharashtra receive a purchase price of at least Rs 40 per litre.

This Milk Dindi is set to begin on Maharashtra Agriculture Day (1st July) from Shikhar Shinganapur in the Satara District. The Dindi will proceed to the tomb of Padma Shri Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Samadhi, where participants will commence an indefinite hunger strike.

Despite the Dhawal Kranti (White Revolution) bringing a surge of milk production to Maharashtra, the financial situation of the farmers has not improved. Moreover, the lack of fair pricing for milk has left many milk producers in debt. Temporary milk subsidies lasting a month or two are merely band-aid solutions. As a result, milk-producing farmers and various farmers’ organizations have emphasized the need for a comprehensive milk policy to establish a permanent solution regarding milk pricing.

Representatives of farmers’ organizations had previously visited Mantralaya on 8th November 2023, presenting ten demands to the Maharashtra State Government. Among these demands is the formulation of a long-term milk policy to address the milk pricing issue permanently, suggesting a 15 % profit based on the production cost of milk. A Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) system, similar to that established for sugarcane, should be implemented for milk.

The demands also include the distribution of value-added profits, the establishment of a milk price commission, the regulation of animal feed and drug prices, legal protection and strict action against milk adulterers, and the prevention of exploitation of milk producers through ‘Milkometers’ and Weighing Machines.

Wrestlers Khandu Kharche from Phaltan (Satara), Hari Pawar from Indapur (Pune), Satish Deshmukh from Pune, Mahesh Jedhe from Purandar (Pune), and their colleagues have organized this Milk Dindi.

Milk Dindi Schedule:
– Starting from Shikhar Shinganapur at 5 AM on Maharashtra Agriculture Day (1st July).
– Traveling to Rahuri via Gorakshnath Fort for an overnight stay on the same day.
– Visiting Padma Shri Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil’s Samadhi the following morning.
– Commencing the indefinite hunger strike at Padmashri Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil’s Samadhi.