December 9, 2022
Abir Ranjan Biswas’s Supplementary Questions on regulating milk price, esp. to help children, and removal of GST on milk products
Sir, we know that as far as child nutrition is concerned, milk is a cheap source. From the reply given by the Minister, it seems that he is heavily dependent on the Poshan Scheme. I would like to bring to the notice of the Minister that this scheme has not been a very good
success. They have a target of arresting stunted growth to 25 per cent by 2022. The current NFHS-5 figures show that it has achieved only 35.5 per cent. That is just an example, Sir. I may again repeat that milk is a cheap source of nutrition for children aged below six years. The Minister has said that the Government does not regulate milk prices. Does the Minister intend to do something more to help out in this case the people, especially children, of the lower income group? Sir, I would be putting my second supplementary question, but as I said, the Poshan Abhiyan has not been a good success and hence I was asking if Government intends to do something more. Sir, this is my second supplementary question. As per the answer and as per several news articles, milk inflation increased to 7.7 per cent in October, 2022. I would like to know if the Minister has requested or intends to request the Finance Ministry to remove the five per cent GST on curd, lassi, buttermilk and 12 per cent GST on condensed milk, butter, ghee, cheese, etc., for easy accessibility to the lower income groups.
