Karnataka’s milk price hike draws flak for impact on budget and nutrition

The hike in milk prices by ₹8 per litre will come into effect on Sunday (November 1).

The State government's announcement of a hike in milk prices by ₹8 per litre, which will come into effect on Sunday (November 1), has been criticised by experts and the public alike for its impact on budget and nutrition.

Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar, convener of the Income Tax Payers’ Forum, Bengaluru, said, “Since 2023, milk prices in Karnataka have increased by ₹15 per litre. According to my calculations, this represents a 38.5% increase. Even the salaries of people across various professions have not increased by 30% over the past three to four years. Some have also lost their jobs in private companies as artificial intelligence and other technologies replace human resources. How are such people expected to manage when the prices of essential commodities like milk continue to rise?”

He said, “Milk prices have been increased four times since 2023, including the latest hike. The price was increased by ₹3 per litre in August 2023. In another revision, ₹2 was added to the price per packet, along with an increase in quantity by 50 ml, taking a one-litre packet to 1.05 litres. On April 1, 2025, the price was increased by another ₹4 per litre. The latest increase is ₹8 per litre.”

Sylvia Karpagam, public health expert and nutritionist, said that the increase in milk prices would disproportionately affect the working class, particularly daily-wage labourers such as construction workers, domestic workers and security guards.

“The government has already stopped providing eggs under the midday meal scheme, while meat has become increasingly expensive. With milk also becoming less affordable, we are likely to see a rise in stunting and other nutritional deficiencies among children and women in the State,” Ms. Karpagam said.

She added that a UNICEF report released in 2025 highlighted nutritional deficiencies among the State’s population, including deficiencies in vitamin B12, zinc, calcium and vitamin A.

“Foods rich in essential nutrients and proteins should be subsidised by the government. Instead, they are becoming inaccessible to the working class,” she said.

Dr. Sylvia said that the government should procure milk directly from farmers and make it available at subsidised rates to people below the poverty line. “People are left with cereals as their primary source of sustenance. Consequently, we can expect healthcare costs to rise, along with an increase in illnesses among children,” she added.

Citing the example of garment workers, Prathiba R., president of the Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU), said, “While the prices of milk and other essential commodities continue to rise, garment workers’ monthly salaries have remained stagnant at ₹13,500 for the past 10 years. In a family of five to six members, how can the government expect workers earning such low wages to afford these rising costs? Essential commodities should be made more affordable and accessible rather than becoming increasingly expensive.”

T.M. Rudramurthy, general secretary of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union, expressed disappointment with both the Union and State governments, saying that rising prices had become a routine occurrence, leaving ordinary people with little time or means to protest.

“Price rise has become the norm. The common man does not have the time to protest against the government. If we take part in a protest, we lose a day’s wages,” he said. He added that auto LPG prices had increased from ₹66 to ₹77 per litre as of Friday (October 30).