The city-based Arogya Sena, along with 44 other organisations, has criticised the government’s failure to disclose the names of the 22 milk dairies, identified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), allegedly involved in selling spurious milk.
While addressing the media in Pune, Dr Abhijeet Vaidya, founder of Arogya Sena, on Wednesday demanded strict action, including death by hanging, against those involved in milk adulteration.
“According to a study by Food and Drug Safety of India, almost 70% of the milk supplied across the country is spurious. This recent study has once again brought to light the disturbing reality of the dairy industry,” he said.
Vaidya, however, pointed out how the Maharashtra
government has failed to take any steps to bring to book the milk diaries identified by the FDA for allegedly selling
spurious milk in 2009.
“The reason for this inaction can be easily guessed — the close ties of big milk dairies with political parties in the state,” he claimed.
In 2009, Sampatrao Deshmukh, the then inspector of FDA, had stumbled upon a massive racket of preparation and sale of spurious or chemical milk in Phaltan.
Following the raids, both the FDA and the police had found that large milk dairies were involved in the purchase and distribution of spurious milk. The FDA had drawn up a list of 22 dairies across the state involved in this nefarious business, but had refused to publish the names. They also did not take any action against these dairies.
“The Arogya Sena had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay high court. However, the matter is yet to come up for hearing. Besides, most of the political parities have shied away from taking proactive steps in this matter,” he said.
Pointing out the serious consequences of consuming spurious milk, Vaidya said, “The chemicals used in spurious milk can damage the tooth enamel, linings of the oesophagus, stomach and liver. It is like slow poisoning, which often baffles medical practitioners.”
The Arogya Sena has announced that it would soon launch a statewide agitation to highlight the apparent lethargy of the government in this matter. “We would pressurise the government through a mass movement to take strict action against the criminals,” he said.
