Lots of state people rely on cooperative for their festival stock
TNR News Network
SHIMLA:
Even after facing flak in 2024 for distributing fungus-tainted sweets, the Himachal Pradesh government-owned Milkfed has once again roped in the same Chandigarh-based company to prepare Diwali sweets, albeit under stricter conditions.
The state cooperative has awarded the firm a contract to supply 500 quintals of sweets this festive season.
Milkfed officials admit they were unable to hire their own confectioners due to lack of in-house machinery, though they insist this would change next year when Milkfed plans to manufacture sweets independently.
Bitter taste of last year’s fiasco
In 2023, sweets prepared by the same private company had landed Milkfed in controversy after fungus was detected in Doda Barfi sent to several VIPs. The issue sparked outrage and prompted a probe, which found lapses on the part of the Chandigarh firm. A penalty running into lakhs of rupees was imposed for compromising quality standards.
Despite the embarrassment, Milkfed has again turned to the same supplier this year, raising eyebrows within the department and among consumers.
Minister seeks answers from MD
Animal Husbandry Minister Chander Kumar recently questioned Milkfed’s Managing Director Vikas Sood on why the organisation had failed to make sweets on its own despite earlier directions. The minister reportedly asked what had changed to make the Chandigarh firm suddenly “trustworthy” again.
Sood explained that this year’s sweets would have an improved shelf life of 20 to 21 days, compared to last year’s 15-day limit under cold storage. He said that samples were being tested in multiple laboratories, including Milkfed’s own, to ensure there’s no repeat of last year’s embarrassment. “Even reputed brands source their sweets from this company,” he said in defence of the decision.
Next Diwali, Milkfed plans to go solo
Learning from past mistakes, Milkfed has now decided to set up its own production line and hire professional confectioners by next year. Minister Chander Kumar confirmed that the cooperative would produce sweets in-house from next Diwali to ensure better quality control and brand credibility.
The Chandigarh-based company remains under scrutiny, having already been penalised about Rs 25 lakh, but this Diwali will be its last chance to redeem itself before Milkfed starts sweetening Himachal’s festive season on its own terms, said an official.
