Dairy farmers' stir: Govt plans to introduce milk in mid-day meal scheme

By official estimates, the country has a surplus of 300,000 tonnes of milk powder, which has led to dairies and other bulk buyers cutting liquid milk purchase thus affecting its price.

With milk supply in several parts of Maharashtra affected by a stir of farmers demanding higher prices, a central government panel of ministers endorsed a 10 per cent export incentive on milk and milk products and a series of measures that included distribution of milk in railway stations and anganwadis.

“We are planning to introduce milk in the mid-day meal scheme to increase its consumption,” road transport minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters after the meeting. Finance minister Piyush Goyal and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj were also on the panel.

By official estimates, the country has a surplus of 300,000