Milk strike called off with promise of Rs 25 per litre

The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) ended its four-day agitation after Dairy Development Minister Mahadev Jankar announced that the state set the minimum rate of milk at Rs 25 per litre. The decision will be implemented from July 21. MP Raju Shetti, founder of SSS, said milk supply would resume from Friday morning.

After the government announced the decision at the state Assembly, Shetti flew up to Nagpur to meet Chief Minister Fadnavis at his bungalow to thrash out the details. He was accompanied by Member of Legislative Council Kapil Patil, minister Girish Mahajan and some SSS members. The new purchase rate increases the burden on the government by Rs 75 crore per month.

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Around 55 lakh farmers will benefit from the new rates that come into effect from July 21. The state consumes 1.30 crore litres of milk ever day.