Sumul Dairy Marred in Controversy Over Alleged Employment Scam

Surat: The Surat District Milk Producers’ Co-operative Society Limited, commonly known as Sumul Dairy, has found itself embroiled in a brewing controversy following allegations of an ’employment scam’ brought to light by the cooperative sector leader, Darshan Naik. Naik has called for an impartial government agency to handle the appointments of both technical and non-technical staff within the dairy.

In a scathing letter addressed to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the Minister of State for Co-operation, Naik accused the upper echelons of Sumul Dairy of orchestrating a dubious scheme to fill vacant positions with their preferred candidates. According to Naik, the president, vice-president, and other authorities within Sumul Dairy are purportedly entangled in a network that facilitates the appointment of individuals favored by the leadership, bypassing eligible candidates from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) who hail from families associated with the dairy’s farmers and herdsmen.

Naik vehemently asserted, “The employment scam is politically driven, and it is evident that the deserving SC/ST candidates are being disregarded. Instead, candidates recommended by close associates and political figures are being favored, sidelining the eligible youth from the farmer member families of Sumul Dairy.”

The controversy has further intensified as reports emerged that during the document verification process for job applicants at Sumul Dairy, the names of qualified SC/ST candidates were allegedly omitted from consideration due to political pressure.

This scandal isn’t an isolated incident. Recent events in the recruitment processes of clerical positions within cooperative organizations in Surat saw the favoring of relatives based on recommendations from directors, political figures, and office bearers, neglecting adequately qualified candidates.

The uproar has sparked concern among the public and various sectors, highlighting the urgent need for transparency and fairness in the hiring practices of Sumul Dairy and other cooperative institutions in Surat.

Officials from Sumul Dairy have yet to respond to these allegations, heightening the public’s demand for an independent investigation into the employment procedures and an assurance of equal opportunity for all eligible candidates, irrespective of their affiliations or recommendations.

The unfolding saga is poised to ignite a broader conversation about nepotism, political interference, and the imperative need for an unbiased recruitment process within cooperative societies, particularly in a significant entity such as Sumul Dairy, which plays a pivotal role in the district’s dairy production and economy.

“The chief stakeholders and government officials are anticipated to address these accusations and take decisive action to restore trust and integrity in the recruitment systems, ensuring a fair and just process for all prospective employees”