Anand: The celebration of National Milk Day started in the morning with a walkathon at Anand, Gujarat after garlanding statue of Dr. Varghese Kurien. Ms. Varsha Joshi, Joint Secretary (C&DD), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying participated in the walkathon with several others involving the participants from AMUL, IDMC, IRMA, NDDB, NCDFI and Indian Immunological Limited.

After the walkathon; on arrival of the Chief Guest Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr. L. Murugan and Secretary (AHD), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Atul Chaturvedi, they flagged off an innovative mobile milking machine manufactured by IDMC.

Thereafter the main event begun with the lighting of the lamps by Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and other dignitaries followed by inauguration and speeches. In his speech, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala appreciated the Cooperative movement initiated by Dr. Varghese Kurien and to NDDB and AMUL for maintaining the legacy and tradition of Cooperatives. It is with the tradition percolated into many other States, the Dairy Sector grew in India to become highest milk producer in the world. He also launched IVF lab at Hessarghata, Karnataka and Dhamrod, Gujarat online besides launch of Grand Start up Challenge 2.0 and web portal for Breed multiplication farm. He wished that technological interventions and innovations will usher into not only improvement in productivity but also will encourage entrepreneurship.

 

During the programme, he felicitated the winners of Gopal Ratna Awards for the categories of Best Dairy Farmer, Best Artificial Insemination Technician and Best Dairy Cooperative Society (DCS). He appreciated all the winners of Gopl Ratna Awards.

The Minter of states also reiterated the need for taking cooperative movement into other states and advocated vocal for local and taking local to global.