ANIIDCO rolls out milk carts, new parlour to boost sales and support women’s groups

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO) has expanded its dairy services with the launch of its first-ever milk carts at Marina Park and Bathu Basti, along with a new milk parlour at Swaraj Dweep. The initiative, which aims to strengthen local livelihoods and ensure better public access to fresh dairy products, marks another step in ANIIDCO’s mission to promote nutritional security across the islands.

The new facilities were virtually inaugurated by Chief Secretary and ANIIDCO Chairman Chandra Bhushan Kumar in Sri Vijaya Puram, in the presence of Managing Director Chanchal Yadav, Executive Director (Milk Plant) Pallavi Sarkar, General Manager (Milk Plant) Mohd. Pervaiz, and Company Secretary Basuki Nath, along with senior officials from the administration and the corporation.

Following the inauguration, the Chief Secretary interacted with members of the Self Help Groups (SHGs) who will operate the newly introduced milk carts. He encouraged them to maintain hygiene, quality, and customer satisfaction in their operations and commended their enthusiasm and commitment.

At Marina Park, the milk cart will be managed by Sree Laxmi from the Rani Sindiya SHG, while the Bathu Basti cart will be operated by Santhi from the Victory SHG. The involvement of SHGs in this initiative reflects ANIIDCO’s continued efforts to promote women’s empowerment through entrepreneurship and community-based employment. Local councillors V. Vetriveli (Ward 19) and S. Selvi (Ward 5) attended the event and lauded ANIIDCO’s move to strengthen SHG participation in dairy entrepreneurship.

The new units are expected to generate additional monthly sales of around Rs. 10 to Rs. 12 lakh in the initial months, providing a significant boost to ANIIDCO’s dairy division. According to Senior Manager (Milk Plant) Rajendra Kumar, the corporation’s earlier initiative, a mobile milk parlour inaugurated on August 28, 2025, has already received an overwhelming public response, recording sales of Rs. 1.3 lakh within a month of operation.

Officials noted that these mobile and fixed milk distribution units are designed to bring fresh dairy products closer to consumers while supporting small-scale women-led enterprises. The initiative not only strengthens ANIIDCO’s retail presence but also contributes to the broader goal of ensuring food and nutritional security for island residents.

Chief Secretary Kumar praised the field staff for their teamwork and commitment to implementing the project successfully, describing it as an example of coordinated effort between government institutions and community organisations.

ANIIDCO’s milk division has been steadily diversifying its retail and outreach network to meet rising local demand for dairy products. With the latest additions, the corporation aims to enhance supply efficiency, improve service accessibility, and create a more sustainable business model that benefits both producers and consumers.

The launch of the milk carts and parlour also underscores ANIIDCO’s strategy to blend public welfare with economic growth. By linking women’s groups to its retail network, the corporation is helping local communities become self-reliant while delivering affordable, high-quality dairy products.

Officials said ANIIDCO remains committed to promoting health, nutrition, and convenience through accessible dairy distribution channels. The organisation continues to focus on affordability and quality assurance, ensuring that every household across the islands has regular access to fresh milk and milk products.

The initiative reflects the administration’s broader goal of building community-led micro-enterprises that contribute to both livelihood generation and service improvement across the Union Territory.