Gavali milkmen stand with the masses refuse to hike price despite inflation

Hubballi

When the state government increased milk prices twice in the last nine months, milkmen from the twin city, especially the Gavali community, decided not to increase prices despite rising costs. The last revision was over a year ago.

With Nandini and private dairy prices up, consumers are turning to fresh milk from local vendors.

Vasu, a milk seller in Lingaraj Nagar, said it's not fair to hike prices repeatedly. We will hike prices once at least in two years. We may think of hiking prices after six or so months, he said.

Basamma, a cow keeper in Unkal village, said she is also facing the heat of price hikes of all essential commodities like cattle feed, fuel and grocery items. However, milk prices can't hike on the lines of vegetables till the market gets saturated. Once we hike, we can't slash like vegetables. So, we can't do like the government does, she said.
  

Meanwhile, many milkmen in rural areas such as Bhairidevarakoppa, Navalur, Sutagatti, Amargol and Sattur, which fall between Hubli and Dharwad, happily shared that demand has increased after the price hike of Nandini's milk.  Many consumers are preferring our milk as it is fresh and economical. Demand for our milk has increased by 20-30 percent as the government is hiking prices again and again,  they said.

Sweta Sharma, a consumer of local milk, said her milkman is giving milk at the rate of Rs 41 per litre. He is trying to hike the price but says he will not bother his customers. We always prefer local milk as it will be fresh and it is from indigenous cows. All packed milk is from hybrid cows and they are not good for health, she said.