Govt directs cooperatives to open bank accounts for milk producers

The Centre has asked dairy major Amul to open bank accounts for all milk producers by 30th of this month and other cooperatives by 30th of January next year to ensure smooth payment to farmers post-demonetisation. Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation sells milk and other dairy products under Amul brand. 

The Centre is also reviewing and monitoring the situation of easing the payment to milk producers. Agriculture Ministry in a statement said, certain unintended impacts have been observed especially in the sectors thriving upon sheer cash transactions following the decision of



demonetisation. 

It said, instructions have been issued to all the agencies like National Dairy Development Board, Mother Dairy, Delhi Milk Scheme and all state Dairy co-operative federations for ensuring direct payment to milk producers bank account at the earliest.The Ministry said, using the window of opportunity opened by the demonetization decision, it is high time to accelerate the opening of bank accounts of all those unbanked milk producers to make it cashless and digital. There are 1.70 lakh Dairy Co-operative Societies at village level having 1.6 crore milk producers affiliated with 218 milk unions.