Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 10: The Dhoodi Gujjars supplying milk to Jammu city and other parts today called off their two-day long strike after the administration in principle has agreed to accept their demands.
To avert the crisis created due to two-day long strike by Dhoodi Gujjars, the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Shantmanu after holding a meeting with senior officers of administration including the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, A K Sahu, Director CAPD, SSP Jammu and senior officers of JMC in the morning issued directives to district administration to convene a meeting of Dhoodi Gujjars Association (DGA) and district administration immediately to settle issue.
Later Mr Sahu chaired a meeting of the officers and representatives of the Dhoodi Gujjars. The Dhoodi Gujjars were led by their senior representatives and president of DGA, Jameel Choudhary. Besides Joint Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), its Health Officer Dr Vinod Sharma, SSP Jammu and other officers were also present in the meeting.
Jameel Choudhary later told Excelsior that Government in principle agreed all the three demands of the Dhoodi Gujjars including hike in cost, withdrawal of cases and evolving of scientific mechanism to check the adulteration in milk will be conceded. He said following the agreement with administration, the DGA has decided to call off the strike today.
Health Officer JMC, Dr Vinod Sharma said that administration has decided to convene the meeting on Monday with authorities of CAPD and JMC to take a decision regarding the enhancement of rate of milk as demanded by DGA.
He said administration will assess the total cost involved on milk production and decide the rate accordingly by giving some percentage of margin to the gujjars.
Regarding the checking on milk he said already a proper scientific mechanism exists for the same. However in future sampling will be taken from shopkeepers and Halwais where the milk is being supplied and its samples will sent to lab for checking.
However, when contacted the JMC Commissioner Kiran Wattal said that rate is not the concern of JMC but it is concerned with supply of quality milk and his organization will not allow the supply of adulterated milk at any cost to play with the lives of people.
He said the administration has convened meeting on Monday to take the decision about the enhancement of the rate but the JMC is firm in its resolve not to allow supply of adulterated milk in the city at any cost.
Meanwhile, milk supply to the winter capital remained affected for the second day today as Gujjars strike against what they called high headedness of the police.
Hindu Shiv Sena led by Krishan Singh Manhas in its Executive meeting today expressed serious concern over the strike by Dhoodi Gujjars who stopped supply of milk to the city.
Addressing the meeting Arjun Sharma senior vice president of the organization has welcomed the action of JMC Commissioner, Kiran Wattal and other officers for checking the quality of milk in the City. He also appealed the people render full cooperation to JMC in this regard so that supply of quality milk is ensured to the people.
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