National Milk Day, celebrated on November 26 every year, raises awareness about the importance of milk. Read on to learn about National Milk Day’s history, importance, and legacy of Dr Verghese Kurien.
The first National Milk Day was celebrated on November 26, 2014 (Photo credit: Unsplash)
New Delhi: National Milk Day is observed on November 26 yearly. Milk is one of the most important sources of essential nutrients. National Milk Day raises awareness of milk’s importance and beneficial effects. November 26 commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr Verghese Kurien, known as the ‘Milkman of India’ and ‘Father of White Revolution in India’. Kurien is famous for ‘Operation Flood’, which is known as the largest agricultural programme in the world.
In this article, let us look at when and why this day was started and its importance.
National Milk Day 2024: When and why was this day started?
National Milk Day celebrates milk’s important role in our lives and promotes the benefits of drinking milk. It also aims to support the dairy industry by encouraging the production of milk products.
In 2014, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), the Indian Dairy Association (IDA), and 22 state milk federations chose November 26 to honour Kurien. They started celebrating National Milk Day on this date.
In 1970, the NDDB launched Operation Flood, a project to create a national milk grid. Kurien was the chairman of the NDDB at that time. He brought strong management skills to the cooperative sector. His efforts in Operation Flood helped make India one of the world’s largest producers of milk and milk products.
Operation Flood’s goal was to increase milk production for local use and improve the economic situation in rural communities. This initiative helped India overcome problems caused by dishonest milk traders, positioning the country as a leading producer of milk and its products.
What is the importance of National Milk Day?
Operation Flood made India’s dairy industry one of the largest self-sustaining sectors, contributing 4.5 per cent to the country’s GDP. Kurien played a key role in creating Amul, a well-known milk brand that sets the standard for milk production.
On National Milk Day, India honours Kurien’s efforts and encourages people to understand the benefits of drinking milk. He aimed to make India self-reliant through dairy development, and his vision still resonates in the country’s dairy industry.
Verghese Kurien and his legacy
Dr Verghese Kurien was born on November 26, 1921, in Kozhikode, Kerala.
He set up 30 institutions run by farmers and workers and helped create the Delhi Milk Scheme to address price issues. He founded the brand Amul and helped modernise dairy production.
Due to Kurien’s work, India became the largest milk producer in 1998, surpassing the US. He received many awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the World Food Prize, and the Krishi Ratna. He also received Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
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