Jairam wary of pvt dairy players

Union minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh today made it clear that he was against the entry of private players in the dairy sector.

He was here to inaugurate the packaging film plant of Indian Dairy Machinery Company (IDMC) at Anand,

Expressing his reservation regarding the entry of private players, Ramesh said, "I am a man (who is) non-believer of private sector dairy."

He added, "Private sector dairy has been emerging in a detrimental way to the cooperative sector." He showed his faith in the cooperative sector by saying, "I am committed to the idea of cooperatives."

On the emergence of new challenge for cooperative dairy sector, Jairam said, "Cooperatives (diaries) will come in direct competition with Reliance and ITC."

"If a company fails or incur losses it is answerable to no one, which is not the case of cooperatives," said Jairam.

"It is a challenge and we need to learn how to face the private sector by been in public organisation," said Jairam. He also showed his concern regarding the increasing political interference into cooperative diary sectors.

According to him only three states - Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka had succeeded in developing cooperative diary sectors while all other states had failed to replicate the cooperative model.

He also pointed towards the changing equations and priorities of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

"NDDB is in its historic transition point," said Jairam. He said, "I don't know whether the NDDB wants to follow its own model, but there are all others who wants to follow the NDDB model."