Ernakulam Panchayat to assess impact of school dairy kiosks

The Ernakulam District Panchayat will study the social impact of dairy kiosks operating in schools before deciding whether to extend the programme to more institutions, its president K.G. Radhakrishnan said. The kiosks were established under Milma@School, a campaign of the dairy cooperative.

They are currently operating in three of the 58 schools under the local body, including Government VHSS at Pallarimangalam and Kadavoor and a government school at Chowara. Radhakrishnan said the kiosks could discourage pupils from leaving school premises to buy refreshments. He also described the products as a healthier alternative to some outside options.

However, he said concerns had been raised about the financial burden on children and how they would pay for the products. Members of the district panchayat also questioned whether the project could place additional pressure on parents and raised the electricity charges associated with operating the equipment. The proposed assessment will examine the experience of schools where the kiosks have already been introduced.

Wilson J. Puravakkatt, managing director of the Milma Ernakulam Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union, said the programme was being implemented across Kerala. He described it as part of an effort to keep children on campus and reduce their exposure to strangers.

An ERCMPU representative said the kiosks sell dairy products, snacks and sugar-free products priced between ₹10 and ₹100. The outlets are operated either by parent-teacher associations or school clubs, with profits going to the schools. The cooperative said the project has been implemented in about 15 schools in Ernakulam.

The district panchayat will consider the findings from the existing outlets before any wider rollout under its jurisdiction.