Schoolchildren to get milk 5 days a week

The State government has decided to extend the supply of milk to government schools under the Ksheera Bhagya programme from three days to five days a week.

The government is grappling with the issue of excess production of milk. Milk powder is supplied to schools, where it is converted into milk and distributed to students.

According to officials, the Karnataka Milk Federation produces around 69 lakh litres of milk every day, but only 42 lakh litres is sold/consumed. The remaining 27 lakh litres of milk produced is being diverted towards production of milk poThe State government has decided to extend the supply of milk to government schools under the Ksheera Bhagya programme from three days to five days a week. wder.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who chaired a meeting with stakeholders of all milk unions on Monday, directed the authorities to release the support price announced for milk producers immediately.

Difficult to export
Minister for Animal Husbandry T B Jayachandra, who was present at the meeting, told reporters that since the government was finding it difficult to even export the excess milk produced, increasing the supply to schools would bring some reprieve.

He said that currently around seven lakh litres of milk was being supplied to schools. An additional 3.5 lakh litres would be utilised if the number of days of milk supply in schools is increased, he added.

There is no demand for milk powder as the prices had crashed in the international market.
He said thrust would be given on creating infrastructure for setting up powder plants and also on manufacturing byproducts.

It is learnt that Siddaramaiah has instructed officials to ensure that support price for milk producers is released without delay by ensuring that the amount is deposited directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

Milk producing cooperative unions should monitor the same, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said.
According to officials, Rs 825 crore was released in 2014-15 as support price for producers, while Rs 966 crore has been set aside for 2015-16.