Hassan: Milk producers and farmers from the Hadenahalli Milk Producers’ Women’s Co-operative Society in Hassan district staged a protest on Friday night by emptying over 1,600 liters of milk onto the ground. The secretary of the union, Jayanthi from Hadenahalli village, faced allegations and calls for an expenditure report after a new governing body was established. However, union members claimed that Jayanthi had not responded, alleging discrepancies in the accounts. As a result, the association’s president and director recommended her suspension from the governing body.
For the past twenty days, tensions had been escalating with accusations and counter-accusations. Frustrated farmers gathered in front of the milk dairy on Friday evening and expressed their anger by spilling a significant quantity of milk on the ground. The extension officer of the Hassan Milk Union had issued a notice not to accept milk until the confusion was resolved.
Producers and farmers had been sending milk to the main dairy for two days. Still, the main dairy supervisor, Manjushree, instructed the association not to purchase the milk. This led to a confrontation, with the secretary refusing to accept milk and expressing her discontent. In response, the farmers threw milk cans and spilled milk on the road, leading to police intervention. This incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Sravanabelagola Police Station. Asha, the President of the Milk Producers’ Women’s Cooperative Association, stated, “The secretary has retained the accounting books in her house and has not brought them to the office.”
The situation worsened as union supervisors issued notices to other milk producers’ cooperative societies in neighboring villages not to procure milk until the issue was resolved. The farmers urged the authorities to address the problem.
