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Maharashtra dairy farmers on warpath for better prices

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Thousands of dairy farmers in Maharashtra launched a 3-day long agitation demanding fair remunerative prices as per law for their milk products and to end exploitation by private milk producing companies, leaders said here on Monday.

The agitations were held in 14 largest milk-producing districts of northern, western and Marathwada regions of the state with hundreds of farmers taking to the streets, shouting slogans for their demands.

Farmers protested by emptying cans of milk on roadsides, feeding stray animals or offering to temples to draw the state’s attention to their plight, said Milk Producer Farmers Action Committee (MPFAC) Coordinator Ajit Nawale.

“We have written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Dairy Development Minister Sunil Kedar to immediately accept our 8-point demands in the interest of the dairy farmers and the consumers at large,” said All India Kisan Sabha President Ashok Dhawale.

On account of the long pandemic lockdown, the milk farmers are virtually on the verge of starvation along with their cattle owing to unfair or very low remunerative prices for their milk.

“We have demanded hiking the minimum remuneration by Rs 15 for cow milk, sold at Rs.20 now, and buffalo milk sold at Rs.45 currently, to ensure the dairy farmers get better returns and recover their costs,” said Nawale.

The MPFAC has also demanded that the state government should end the exploitation of dairy farmers by the 350-odd big companies selling branded milk products.

“In Gujarat, the state government encourages only ‘Amul’ and Karnataka supports ‘Mahanandi’ But, in Maharashtra, 74 percent of the milk production is bought by the corporates, and the rest 24 percent goes to the traditional milk cooperatives which are now in shambles owing to the politicians,” Dr. Nawale said.

The MPFAC has sought a subsidy of Rs.5 per litre to farmers who suffered during the lockdown period, enact suitable laws to prevent the ‘loot’ of the dairy farmers, ensure FRP as per law for milk, share in profits made by the corporates dabbling in the dairy business, legal guarantee to ensure milk is available to consumers at affordable prices.

Referring to the cheating of the milk farmers by faulty milk-meters, the MPFAC seeks all dairy organisations must use only certified milk-meters and appoint independent inspectors to check them on regular basis.

Dhawale said the state government should announce a grant and launch an animal insurance scheme for the dairy farmers for their long-term security.

The protests on Monday — a year after a weeklong state-level agitation in August 2020 — were carried out simultaneously in Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Beed, Pune, Nashik, Jalgaon, Latur, Osmanabad, Solapur, Parbhani and Nanded, said a Spokesperson P.S. Prasad.

Crime

Navi Mumbai News: Panvel City Traffic Police penalise 1513 motorists for violating traffic rules

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Navi Mumbai: The Panvel City Traffic Police launched a crackdown against motorists on Thursday for not following traffic rules. In a special drive, a total of 1513 motorists were penalised under the Panvel traffic unit jurisdiction. The drive was carried out under the guidance of Tirupati Kakade, Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic) by Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Nale of Panvel City Traffic Branch.

Motorsists penalised over multipole offences

Motorists were fined for not wearing seatbelts, using black glasses in the car, entering a no-entry zone and riding motorbikes without helmets.

The Panvel City traffic unit informed that a similar drive will be carried out in days to come and more motorists will be fined for violating the traffic rules.

“Wearing a helmet for people riding two-wheelers is mandatory. From time to time, public awareness is created,” said an official from the Panvel Traffic unit. He added that the majority of two-wheelers riders wear helmets.

Traffic official stresses on benefits of wearing helmet

However, the drive is concentrated on those who are intentionally not wearing helmets. “Wearing a helmet saves the motorbike rider. It often saves lives in accidents because the head is protected and does not get hit,” said the official.

In addition, using black glass, driving without a seatbelt, triple seats in two-wheelers, and driving in no-entry were fined during the drive. Sanjay Nale, senior police inspector from the Panvel City Traffic branch said that apart from the penalty, they also created awareness among motorists to prevent accidents.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai weather: IMD predicts partly cloudy sky with possibility of light rain in the city; AQI good at 45

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After witnessing mostly sunny sky with a light rain shower on Friday morning, Mumbai is expected to witness similar weather conditions over the weekend. The IMD predicted partly cloudy sky with possibility of light rain in the city until Sunday. The weather agency hinted at Mumbai and its suburbs receiving drizzle particularly in the morning hours of Saturday and Sunday.

On May 27, Mumbai woke up to a pleasant temperature in the city as a major relief from scorching heat and sweat. With humidity at 69%, the overall temperature was recorded to be 31°C.

Furthermore, throwing light on the weather conditions in few other parts of Maharashtra, IMD stated in its report, “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely to occur in South Konkan-Goa, South & North Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada.

Mumbai AQI today

For the third day in a row, the city breathed better air with AQI being under the ‘good’ category. On Saturday, Mumbai marked a reading of 45 as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

For context, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 is ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 is ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

AQI of different areas in Mumbai

BKC: 29 Good

Sion: 55 Satisfactory

Malad: 74 Satisfactory

Colaba: 113 Moderate

Kurla: 162 Moderate

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Maharashtra

Mumbai News: Over 2,000 legislators from 18 states to meet next month in city for NLC Bharat event

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Mumbai: More than 2,000 members of the legislature from 18 states across India will convene at the National Legislators’ Conference Bharat (NLC Bharat) next month in Mumbai, Dr Neelam Gorhe, Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council has said.

NLC Bharat, organised by the MIT School of Government in Pune, is scheduled to take place from June 15 to 17, 2023, at the Jio Convention Centre in BKC, Mumbai. The conference is being held in collaboration with the legislatures from all states while Maharashtra legislature too is supporting the conference, Dr Gorhe said.

Conference will be centered on the core concept of nation building

Rahul Karad, convenor of NLC Bharat and founder of MIT-SOG, said that the conference will be centered on the core concept of nation building, national integration and sustainable development and that there will be 40 parallel sessions and round-table conferences held as part of the event. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Dr Meera Kumar, Shivraj Patil and the current Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla are the patrons for the conference.

In-depth discussions on various social issues

The conference will feature in-depth discussions on various important topics, including stress management in public life, the tools and implications of sustainable development, welfare schemes focusing on uplifting the underprivileged, the adoption of technology for economic welfare, and the significance of appreciative legislation.

Subjects related to developing one’s constituency will be discussed

Other noteworthy subjects that will be explored during the event include achieving work-life balance as a key to success, the art and skill of developing one’s constituency, building a positive image through effective tools and techniques, meeting legislative performance expectations, and fostering collaboration between bureaucrats and MLAs for social welfare, he added.

Speaker of Maharashtra legislative Assembly Rahul Narwekar and former Chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar appealed members of Maharashtra legislature to attend the conference.

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