Sweetmeat shops down shutters to protest hike in milk rate

Bhubaneswar, Oct 22 (UNI) Hundreds of sweetmeat shops owners today pulled down their shutters in response to a call given by the Utkal Mistanna Byabsayee Samittee(UMBS) in protest against the hike in prices of milk by the state owned Orissa Milk Federation (OMFED).

They also threatened to intensify their agitation if their ten point charter of demands was not accepted by the government.

The demands included withdrawal of the hike, direction to the OMFED to raise the price once in a year after consulting with the UMBS and to promote diary farming in the state.

OMFED had increased price of milk by Rs four per litre with effect from October 16.

UMBS President Bimbadhar Behera said OMFED had increased the prices of milk thrice within a year. The price was hiked by Rs one per litre in November 2007, by Rs 2 in May, 2008 and by Rs 4 on October 16 last. The hike seriously affected the consumers and should be withdrawn.

Earlier, hundreds of sweetmeat shop owners held a rally and protest meeting in front of the state Assembly in support of their demand.

Around two thousand sweetmeat traders of Berhampur, Khurda, Jatni, Kakatpur, Nimapara, Konark,Puri, Bhubaneswar, Pahal,Cuttack, Salepur, Balasore and Rourkela participated in the rally, Mr Behera claimed.

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