Punjab Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday claimed that in the present time of COVID-19 when the whole country is reeling under economic slowdown in the industry and service sector, Punjab’s milk cooperative, Milkfed, is growing by leaps and bounds and executing various projects to expand its handling capacities.
Randhawa, who was speaking on the sidelines of an event to hand over appointment letters to 11 fresh recruits in the field of production, quality control and procurement against the posts of Assistant Manager, also launched four variants of Verka natural fruit ice creams.
“The recruitments have been made through campus interview at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) Ludhiana. These officers will be put on two years in-service training and thereafter they will be appointed as Assistant Manager in their respective streams,” said Randhawa.
The Minister pointed out that development and expansion projects worth Rs 254 crores are under progress at Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Patiala dairies. Apart from this, Punjab Government and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) assisted Mega Dairy Project at Bassi Pathana, with a total outlay of Rs 138 crores, is likely to be completed by June 2021.
Randhawa said that contrary to most of the ice creams offered by various ice cream brands using artificial or synthetic fruit flavours, Verka natural fruit ice cream has been manufactured from the finest natural fruit pulp and is delicious and healthy. “It will be available in four variant flavours — Pink Guava, Strawberry, Litchi, and Mango — at Rs 40 for 125 ml cup,” added the Minister.
The Minister also revealed that recruitments to 125 posts have been made at Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager and Senior Executive level and in near future, Milkfed will initiate recruitment process to fill 540 technical posts.
Emphasizing the quality control aspect, the Financial Commissioner (Cooperation) K Siva Prasad said that the leading institutions of the cooperative sector, viz Milkfed, Markfed, and Sugarfed, have rendered yeoman’s service in ensuring supply of essential goods to the people during trying times of COVID-19.
The Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Vikas Garg said that it is a matter of pride that the Sohna Honey of Markfed figured among the three brands who passed the stringent quality control measures of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) which tested 13 brands.
Milkfed managing director Kamaldeep Singh Sangha informed that Verka had also launched Natural Vanilla Milk last year. “For boosting the immunity of people, Verka has launched the extremely popular Haldi Dudh recently,” he said adding that for the convenience of consumers, the popular PIO has been launched in new PP Bottle and is available at all major retail outlets and Verka booths.