the goan I network
PONDA
The members of various societies affiliated to Goa Dairy along with other dairy farmers have gone on an indefinite hunger strike demanding reduction in rate of cattle feed by Rs 2.5 per kilo and five other demands. However, the request letter issued by Chairman Rajesh Fal Desai stating he requires at least one month to study the matter was not accepted by the irked farmers.
Their other demands include improvement in quality of cattle feed, payment of last year’s incentives, details of an investigation by a CA with the Registrar of Co-op Societies, automatic machines to check adulteration in milk procuration and to credit pending rate difference (out of profit).
The members of this group were initially restrained from entering the Goa Dairy premises and police were summoned at the site. However, the members claiming that nobody could stop them from entering as they are stakeholders entered the premises.
In the last week of April, around 220 farmers across Goa had gathered in front of Goa Dairy and demanded a rollback of increased rate of Rs 2.50 per kilo on cattle fodder by May 1. They had served an ultimatum had a second one some time later. On Saturday, they announced their plan to go on an indefinite hunger strike from June 7.
Satyashodhak Samiti President Dattaprasad Sawardekar claimed that despite requests, Goa Dairy had not decreased the rate of cattle feed. This forced them to go on hunger strike. They have also demanded that the Satyashodhak Samiti be given permission to investigate losses faced by the cattle feed plant.
MD of Goa Dairy, Dr. Navasu Sawant said that they are working on their demands and needed time to study the issues.
“It is duty of police to maintain law and order. They should give the chairman time to study their demand. He has recently taken the chair,” Dr Sawant told The Goan.
Rajesh Fal Desai said that they had given letter to farmers stating he requires one month time, which was not accepted by them. “ I know that the issue is of serious nature. Hence I need time to study it. But they are not ready for it,” he said.
He also cleared that Goa Dairy has not permitted agitating farmers to erect a pandal in the campus and whatever they are doing is at their risk.
The farmers were supposed to erect a pandal to protect themselves from rain, but they were denied permission.
Joint Mamlatdar Abhir Hede and Police Inspector Harish Madkaikar were summoned at the site. Around fifty police were present at Goa Dairy the entire day.
