National Milk Day is annually observed across India on November 26 to commemorate the birth anniversary of the “Father of the White Revolution in India”, Dr Verghese Kurien, who was fondly known as the ‘Milkman of India’.
National Milk Day is annually organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
- National Milk Day 2022 marks the 101st birth anniversary of Verghese Kurien and is observed as a part of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” on 26th November 2022 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Background:
i. National Milk day was jointly initiated by the Indian Dairy Association (IDA), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and 22 other state-level milk federations in 2014.
ii. The 1st National Milk Day was observed on 26th November 2014.
About Dr Verghese Kurien:
i. Verghese Kurien was born on 26th November 1921 in Kozhikode (formerly Calicut), Kerala and passed away on 9th September 2012 in Nadiad, Gujarat.
ii. He was an Indian engineer and entrepreneur who is credited with starting the “white revolution” also known as Operation Flood, which turned India from a dairy importer to the world’s greatest milk producer by implementing a farmer-cooperative system.
iii. He was the Founder and Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) from 1965 to 1998.
iv. He received the Padma Shri in 1965 and Padma Bhushan in 1966 for Trade and Industry, Gujarat and he received the Padma Vibushan in 1999 for Science and Engineering, Gujarat.
v. Also, he was given the World Food Prize in 1989 for devising a cooperative milk production and distribution system and the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1963 for his innovative coordination of the government and private sector to enhance food and sanitation in India.
Operation Flood:
i. Operation Flood was established in 1970 and has aided dairy farmers in planning their growth and taking ownership of the resources they produce.
ii. Operation Flood is one of the world’s largest rural development programmes.
ii. 3 phases of Operation Flood:
- The creation of the National Milk Grid links producers and consumers in more than 700 towns and cities across India.
- Reduced the seasons and regional price variations
- Producers get fair market prices from consumers by eliminating middlemen.
National Milk Day Event 2022:
i. Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Minister of State (MoS) for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India laid the foundation stone for an Advanced Training Facility at Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute at Hesaraghatta & Karnataka Bovine IVF (Invitro-fertilization) activities at Central Cattle Breeding Farm at Hesaraghatta.
ii. On the occasion, a book about Varghese Kurian’s life and a brochure against Milk Adulteration is released by the Dignitaries.
iii. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan has also inaugurated Animal Quarantine Certification Services as part of the occasion in Hasserghata Bengaluru.
National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022:
i. The National Gopal Ratna Awards 2022, one of the highest National Awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector, has been conferred during the National Milk Day event. The Award is conferred in 3 categories, namely,
- Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cattle/buffalo Breeds,
- Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) and
- Best Dairy Cooperative/ Milk Producer Company/ Dairy Farmer Producer Organization).
| Category | Rank | Name of the applicants selected |
|---|---|---|
| Best Dairy farmer rearing indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds | 1 | Jitendra Singh, Fatehabad, Haryana. |
| 2 | Ravishankar Shashikant Sahasrabudhe, Pune, Maharashtra. | |
| 3 | Goyal Sonalben Naran, Kachchh, Gujarat. | |
| Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) | 1 | Gopal Rana, Balangir, Odisha. |
| 2 | Hari Singh, Ganganagar, Rajasthan | |
| 3 | Maachepalli Basavaiah, Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh. | |
| Best Dairy Cooperative society/Milk Producer company/ Dairy Farmer producer organization | 1 | Mananthavady Ksheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangam Ltd, Wayanad, Kerala. |
| 2 | Arakere Milk Producers Cooperative Society Ltd, Mandya, Karnataka. | |
| 3 | Mannargudi MPCS, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu |
ii. The award consists of a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh for 1st rank, Rs 3 lakh for 2nd rank and Rs 2 lakh for 3rd rank along with a Certificate of merit and a memento in each category.
About the Indian Dairy Association (IDA):
President- Dr R.S. Sodhi
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Establishment- 1948
