Aavin Milk - Gowtham Bandi (FT 13131)

Location: Anupuram , Rossa Block

                                                                 Aavin Milk 

India is the largest milk producing nation in the world, about 121.8 million tonnes of milk a year, i.e. on average 300 ml of milk per person , per day. Buffalo milk is the major source in India. –

In Tamil nadu , Aavin  owned by Tamil nadu Co-operative Milk Producers' Federation Limited, is the largest supplier. Tamil nadu alone produces 145.88 Lakh litres per day.

Anupuram is Atomic Energy Township located 65 km south of Chennai on ECR. It was established in the year 2000, with some 500 families. The employees of Indra Gandhi centre for Atomic energy (IGCAR) , stay here. I have been in this township since December 2000. The initial source of milk was from neighbouring villages namely vengambakkam, Kanathur, pudupattinam and neikuppi. Since quality of milk was always a concern for people in township, the co-operative society of atomic energy employees association set up a milk booth in the rossa block, a small 200 feet apartment.

Now, there are more than 1000 families here in the township, with more than 600 young school children in the area. There is always a constant heavy demand for milk. There are about 10 to 12 local milk suppliers (from the nearby villages), who distribute milk during evening. The Aavin milk cards are given on a monthly basis to families, starting date 15 of a month. The various types of packets depending on the fat content are

Color of the packet   :     Blue          = Toned milk
                                          Green       = Standardized milk
                                          Red          = Full cream milk
                                          Magenta   = Double toned milk

The booth supplies another brand called Arokya milk. The costs of the milk packets are that are available for card holders are

Tone milk  500 ml                      3    % fat         13.50

Standardized milk 500 ml           4.5% fat      15.50

The distribution: -

The Aavin milk van comes to the booth early morning at around 4.30 am, the milk packets available are mostly half litre packets, and 200 ml yogurt packets. The township is divided into 4 sectors, IIB, IIIC, IVD and VE, depending on the location and size of the house, each distributor goes to a sector and sits there from 6 to 7.30. People go and collect their packets from them by showing their cards and a small coupon ( with date written on it) which is provided to customers when they buy the card from the milk booth. If not collected on a particular day, the person can get it refunded at the end of the card-cycle.

The milk distribution does not take place during evening hours, customers have to pay for individual packets at the rossa block. This procedure had been followed here since the time on inception. But there were problems during rainy seasons, summer seasons when there was shortage in supply. Recently the state government has increased the cost of each packet by 2 rupees, thus people in the township are preferring fresh milk from local vendors , were the cost is almost similar to the aavin milk and they know the person personally. People prefer fresh milk over the packet milk for babies and for making curd as well.