Lok Sabha Debates
Need For The Take Over Of Himalayan Co-Operative Milk(Himul), West Bengal By ... on 14 May, 2007
Title: Need for the take over of Himalayan Co-operative Milk(HIMUL), West Bengal by National Dairy Development Board, with a view to protect the interest of the milk producers and the employees working in the organisation.
SHRI D. NARBULA (DARJEELING): Himalayan Co-operative Milk (HIMUL) a Dairy Co-operative was established in the year 1975 under Operation Flood-I programme of Ministry of Agriculture with 70% loan from Government of India and 30% grant from the Government of West Bengal. With an object to form Milk Co-operatives in Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Islampur for the economic up-liftment of Rural Milk Producers by rendering fair prices of Milk and to extend better services to the urban areas of North Bengal by supplying pasteurized milk and other milk products i.e. Ghee, Paneer, Lassi, Curd etc. In the absence of permanent administrator, since 1995 this organization is facing great problems. The number of employees has been reduced from 403 to 212, the staffs are not getting full wages since 1991. They have to work with 60% of their salary. The milk producers are not getting the bill payment. The outstanding of HIMUL with different agencies is more than Rupees 15 crores, including the arrear dues of the employees. No adequate steps is being taken by the State Government. A package of Rs. 3 crores has been released by the Central Government with a matching grant of Rs. 3 crores by the State Government but this money has been drained. The family of 1 lakh milk producers and 212 employees are on the verge of starvation. To save this organization, I request the Hon'ble Minister of Agriculture to look into the matter and release some fund besides taking steps for take over of the Management of HIMUL by National Dairy Development Board.