Minister KN Rajanna hints at imminent hike in milk prices in Karnataka
Tumakuru (Karnataka), Sep 14: Karnataka Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna on Saturday hinted at an imminent hike in milk prices.
He said that a meeting would be called soon to decide on this.
"I have brought to the notice of the chief minister that in the entire country there is no state that procures milk from farmers at a lower price than us. Similarly there is no state that sells the milk to consumers at a lower price than us," Rajanna said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "We procure milk at Rs 31 per litre and after installing National Dairy Development Board's (NDDB) software, farmers may be getting Rs 2 per litre more, on an average Rs 31. We sell it at Rs 45 per litre...but no state in the country procures at Rs 31 and sells at Rs 45. In other states they sell at Rs 58-60 (per litre)." "I brought this to the notice of the CM and requested that -- after looking at the prices in other states, fix the procurement and selling price at the same level. In that case, the difference was about Rs 10 per litre. The CM said if the price is hiked so much, people will not keep quiet, but I convinced him to look at the welfare of rural people (largely farmers)," he added.
ALSO READ: Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna announces exit from electoral politics
Noting that there is thinking to increase the price at which milk is procured from farmers, the minister said, the CM has said that the increased amount should completely be passed on to famers.
"He (CM) has said that a meeting will be called in Bengaluru to decide on this," he said.
Addressing an event in Magadi on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had also hinted at a hike in milk prices.
Noting that there has been a demand for increasing the price of milk by Rs 5 per litre, he said a meeting will be called soon to take a decision on increasing the milk price in the interest of the farmers.
Pointing to criticism in the media about the proposal to hike milk prices, Rajanna said, if transaction of money increases in the villages, the country's GDP could increase.
"The hike will not give even Rs 1 profit to the state government, it would rather benefit the Centre as the unions (milk unions) will make a profit and pay higher taxes," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
