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Are adulterators and officers have hands in gloves ? – Arogya Sahayya Samiti

Neglect by the administration in preventing milk adulteration despite an order by the Supreme Court     

 ‘Arogya Sahayya Samiti’ demands action against the negligent officers and adulterators

Mumbai – The issue of the adulteration of milk which is an essential item connected with day to day life of the people has become a serious not only in Maharashtra but also all over India. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the Supreme Court has issued clear orders that the students should be imparted education on how to determine the adulteration in the milk and food items. However, no action appears to be taken in this context in the Districts of Solapur, Jalgaon and Kolhapur, as learnt by the Arogya Sahayya Samiti through the information sought from the RTI Act. Considering the harmful effects of adulteration in milk on health, such instances are on the rise instead of making efforts to stop them with due seriousness. The administration appears to be totally neglecting the serious matter. This raises the question of whether the adulterators and administrative officers are having hands in gloves with each other ? Therefore, the Government should henceforth take action against the delinquent officers along with the adulterators, demanded Arogya Sahayya Samiti in a letter written to the Health Minister of the State, Principal Secretary (Health) and Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration.

The letter further says, –

  1.  In 2012, during the hearing before the Supreme Court in the hearing in the petition on this subject, the Court had directed that the citizens and students should be made aware of the harmful effects of the adulteration in the milk, FDA should organise workshops and impart training on determining the adulteration in the milk and food items.
  2.  However, no action appears to be taken in this context in the Districts of Solapur and Jalgaon. Whereas, such training was imparted only in 9 schools in the Kolhapur District. This information was gathered through the RTI Act, Kolhapur District being the largest milk-producing district in the State, the training taking place only in 9 schools is a very serious matter. This goes to show that the administration does not take firm steps despite the directives of the Court.
  3. According to a survey, 79% of the milk in the State is adulterated. The gangs who indulge in adulteration of the milk are active in slum areas of Mumbai. A few months before, an incident has come to the light that ‘Melamine’, a poisonous liquid was being used to adulterate milk in Pandharpur. The substances used to adulterate the milk such as urea, glucose, detergent powder and substances used to keep the milk fresh such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, etc. affect the health adversely. Due to adulterated milk, diseases such as cancer, TB, etc. are caused.
  4.  To stop the adulteration of the milk and food items, legislation to punish the accused with the life imprisonment was passed in 2018 in the Maharashtra Assembly. However, the administration lacks the determination to stop such nefarious deeds. The Government should inquire whether the administrative officers, Police are hands in gloves with the adulterators, demanded  Arogya Sahayya Samiti.

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