"Remembering Dr. V Kurien, Milkman of India", online Shraddhanjali program and a Special Lecture, "Converting Crisis into an Opportunity" was organized by IDA (West Zone) and College of Dairy Technology, Warud (Pusad), on 9th September 2020.
Shri. R S Sodhi, Managing Director, GCMMF, "Amul", Shri. Arun Narke, former President, IDA and Dr. V Kurien Awardee, Dr. G S Rajorhia, President, IDA, Col. Dr. A M Paturkar, Vice Chancellor, MAFSU, Shri. Arun Patil, Chairman, IDA (West Zone), Shri. S SMaan, Chairman, IDA ( North Zone), Shri. C P Charles, Chairman, IDA ( South Zone), Shri. Sudhir Kumar Singh, Chairman, IDA (East Zone), Shri. JagjitPunjrath, Former Executive Director, NDDB, CEC Members of IDA, Milk producers, Scientists & Students attended the program and paid rich tribute to the "Father of White Revolution."
Shri. R S Sodhi, while paying rich tributes to Dr. Kurien, said that the legend has unparallelcontribution in the development of the rural milk producers, especially women, in independent India. While Dr. Kurien helped dairy cooperatives to gain credibility, his model of marketing of milk & milk products is followed by cooperatives as well as corporates world over. He had always emphasized that unless the rural producers of milk and agri commodities are happy and there is a smile on their faces, they will not continue to produce those commodities.
Shri. Arun Narke, shared his association with Dr. Kurien, Former Chairman, NDDBwho used to give top priority to the challenges faced by the rural milk producersand their cooperatives.
Shri. S SMaan, paid his tributes by narrating how he felt proud when he received an award as a student at the hands of the legend Dr. Kurien, at NDRI in 1968. He further commended the institutions, par excellence, created by Dr. Kurien. He expressed that it is difficult to emulate the legacy created by Dr. Kurien.
Shri. C P Charles, while paying tribute quoted Dr. Kurien, "The greatest satisfaction and joy came from the priceless reward that comes when farmers, whose lives depend on your efforts, appreciate what is being done for them". He further said that Dr. Kurien lives in every drop of milk produced by the rural producers and consumed by the children all over the country. His blessings are seen when the dairy cooperatives and corporates flourish and bring smiles on the millions of marginal & small milk producers. Shri. Charles says, Dr VK lives today in the heart of the Dairy Industry.
Shri. Arun Patil, lauded the contribution of visionary leader Dr. V Kurien and his mission to increase the milk production under "Operation Flood" programs in India so that the country becomes self sufficient. With his vision, determination, passion and perseverance he converted the crisis of shortage of milk & milk products in India into an opportunity to make the country self sufficient in milk production. Dr. Kurien used the gift of milk powder, white butter & butter oil from Unicef and EEC to develop the dairy industry in India.
While implementing different programs & schemes to boost the milk production in India, Dr.Kurien had also cautioned the dairy industry and asked them to prepare to face the "Problems of Plenty", sooner or later. Pandemic, COVID 19 has created the problems of plenty, albeit temporarily ! At present, India, is having huge stocks of SMP, White butter and Ghee. While the state governments are trying to help the local dairy industry by offering cash incentives, distributing milk powders to school children, pregnant & nursing mothers etc. still there are piles of milk powder which are creating financial difficulties to the milk processors.
Shri. Arun Patil, recalled that how visionary leader Dr. V Kurien, persuaded the EEC Countries to gift dairy commodities like milk powder, white butter and butter oil to India, under World Food Program, when EEC faced the" Problems of Plenty". National Dairy Development Board used those gifted commodities to augment the supplies of liquid milk and generated Rs.100 crores, which were utilized to develop the dairy industry in India. The situation has changed, at present India is facing the " Problems of Plenty".More than 2 lakh tonnes of Skim Milk Powder is lying in the ware houses of dairies. It is now India"s turn to help the African and other developing and underdeveloped countries by gifting dairy commodities and encourage them to create their own infrastructure for dairy development, on the lines of "Anand Pattern". India, a Global Leader should help create the floods of milk in those recipientcountries, and create an "Ocean of Milk".
Dr. Geeta Patel, Chairman, Udaipur District Co.op. Milk Producers Union Ltd. applauded the contribution of Dr. Kurien in the dairy industry in India.
Shri. JagjitPunjrath, Former Executive Director, NDDB recalled his long association with Dr. Kurien, while he was working in NDDB and narrated that how Dr. Kuriencreated his own role model of honesty. Dr. Punjrath further stressed upon direct payment to the milk producers by milk unions.
Dr. G S Rajorhia, who chaired the program recalled Dr. Kurien"s contribution to the dairy development in India which started in Kheda District of Gujarat under the leadership of Shri. Tribhuvandas Patel. Dr. Kurien"s dairy cooperative model based on"Anand Pattern", offered sustainability to the dairy development along with job creation in rural India. The contribution of various institutes founded by Dr. Kurien had immensely contributed to transform the lives of rural masses. For his great efforts in bringing socio economic changes in the lives of millions of rural milk producers he was conferred "Raymon Magsaysay" award in 1963. While the Govt. of India has honoured Dr. Kurien with Padma Vibhushan, it is high time that he be conferred with "Bharat Ratna" expressed Dr. G S Rajorhia, President, IDA.
Earlier, Shri. Rajesh Lele, Secretary, IDA (WZ) welcomed the guests and gave a brief account of the activities undertaken by IDA (WZ) and its future plans to celebrate Dr. V Kurien Birth Centenary Year from 26th November 2020 to 26th November 2021. Shri. K Shyju, Vice Chairman, IDA (WZ) offered a vote of thanks. The program was anchored by Dr. Prashant Wasnik, Associate Dean, Dairy Technology College, Warud (Pusad).
Shri. Shyam Taneja, Founder I Can I Will Foundation, Ahmedabad delivered a Special Lecture on " Converting Crisis into an Opportunity". In his talk he narrated as to how he was groomed by Dr. Kurien, while he was working in NDDB & Hindustan Packaging Company Ltd. ( HPCL), Itola, for 23 years. He Expressed his gratitude to Dr. Kurien, whom he described as a Man of 20th Century in India !