Thiruvananthapuram: The Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cooperative Milk Producers' Union on Friday sought a hike in milk prices to avert a crisis in the state's dairy sector.

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The union's Director Board decided to write to the state government and the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), popularly known as Milma, seeking permission to increase the price by Rs 10 per litre, according to a statement.

Milma had raised milk prices by Rs 4 per litre in June this year, but the increase had not translated into significant benefits for dairy farmers, the statement said.

The state government dissolved the regional union's Director Board in July, but it was reinstated recently following an order by a High Court division bench, it said.

At its first meeting after reinstatement, held on Thursday, the Director Board initiated steps to seek a revision in milk prices.

The board decided to provide dairy farmers a subsidy of Rs 100 per bag of Milma cattle feed from December 1.

The state government had put the recruitment process for vacancies in the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Union on hold, despite the completion of application and examination procedures, the statement said.

The reinstated board decided to seek the government's permission to expedite the recruitment process.

The meeting discussed the need to complete an internal inquiry into the Sabarimala ghee controversy, which remained pending following the dissolution of the Director Board.

It decided to complete the inquiry and assess the veracity of the allegations.

To meet the immediate requirement for ghee at Sabarimala, the board authorised the supply of 10,000 litres at wholesale rates.

The union also decided to participate in the e-tender for further supplies of ghee to the Lord Ayyappa temple, the statement added.

(This story has not been edited by Mathrubhumi and is published from a syndicated feed.)