Milk prices to increase by Rs four per litre; Govt approves Milma's decision

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government approved the decision to increase the Milma milk price by up to Rs 4 per litre. The Milma board of directors meeting came with the decision today. The government has not given written approval, as a code of conduct is in place. Since Milma has the authority to increase milk price, it has been included in today's meeting agenda. This is the first time Milma has increased the milk price in the last three years.

While Chairman K.S. Mani asserted that Milma has the authority to adjust prices, the move will be implemented only after consulting the state government.

The delay in the government’s reply was attributed to the Election Code of Conduct, which had been in force during the initial request period.

Chairman Mani stated that the price hike is "inevitable" for the cooperative's survival, emphasising that milk prices have remained stagnant for three years. He noted that Milma cannot continue to operate under current economic pressures without this adjustment. Supporting this urgency, Ernakulam Regional Union Chairman C.N. Vatsalan Pillai added that regional unions had already flagged the need for a price revision as early as August.