People helpless as non-agents charge more for Nandini items

Karnataka Milk Federation’s (KMF) Nandini products are sold at a price more than the MRP (maximum retail price) at many grocery and bakery shops in the City. Milk and curd are sold for at least Rs one or Rs two more than the MRP printed on the product.

This is nothing new as over the years it has become an accepted practice. The extra amount is collected as cold storage charges or electricity charges by shopkeepers. With the recent steep hike in milk prices, Rs four a litre, the burden on consumers has only increased.

Chandru, owner of a grocery shop, said that he buys 20 litres of milk and 10 litres of milk from a Nandini agent and sells the products for Rs two more than MRP. “The extra charges are towards refrigeration as we do not receive any commission from KMF. We buy these products at MRP itself and sell it for Rs 2 more,” he said. 

Ravi Kumar Kakade, director (marketing) of KMF, says that they have never encourage consumers to pay more than MRP for any of the products. If the agents are selling the products for more than the MRP, stringent action is taken. KMF does not have a hold on non-agents selling the products for more than the MRP.

“We are trying to improve our reach to ensure that consumers buy Nandini products only through our agents, booths and parlours. We also tell our consumers to buy our products only from our agents or outlets,” he added.

According to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, no product must be sold for more than the MRP and if it is done, the shopkeeper will be booked and action taken.

An official from the legal metrology department said that his department does receive complaints about Nandini products being sold above MRP. In a month, at least three such complaints are registered and attended to.

The official said that they had acted upon the complaints and had even imposed fine on non-agents charging above MRP. He said that the department was constantly in touch with KMF about such complaints.