Decks cleared for setting up Punjab Dairy Board

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14: Decks have been cleared for the constitution of the Punjab Dairy Board. This was decided at a meeting chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister here today, where he also directed the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, to make provisions for advancement of cooperative loans to milkmen and recognise their profession as a bankable project.

The Dairy Board would be the nodal agency for coordinating, planning and organising programmes of Dairy Development in consultation with the concerned department of the government so as to promote the dairy sector. While representatives of milkmen complained about harassment to them by the police and transport department for moving on milk loaded motor cycles, the Chief Minister directed the secretary, Transport, to issue necessary directions in this regard. He also assured that the complaints of milkmen regarding harassment by the health authorities under the Food Adulteration Act would be looked into.

The Board will also include two representatives of the Punjab Dodhis Union. The meeting considered representations of the union led by its president, Gurdev Singh Fauji and other district presidents.