Observed annually on November 26, National Milk Day commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, celebrated as the “Father of the White Revolution” in India.
- Born on November 26, 1921, in Kozhikode, Kerala, Dr. Kurien was instrumental in transforming India from a milkdeficient nation to the world’s largest producer of milk.
- This day underscores the transformative impact of India’s dairy sector, a key contributor to nutritional security, rural empowerment, and economic growth.
- Globally India is 1st in Milk production with 230.58 million ton per annum and it is 25% of world production of milk followed by USA.
- The per capita availability of milk is around 459 grams/day in 2022- 23.
- Following the visit of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to Anand district of Gujarat in 1964, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was created in 1965 with a mandate to support creation of the Anand pattern of dairy cooperatives across the country through Operation Flood (OF) programme.
- Verghese Kurien, the first chairman of NDDB, along with his team commenced work on the launch of the project which envisaged the organization of Anand-pattern cooperatives in milksheds across the country from where liquid milk produced and procured by milk cooperatives would be transported to cities.
- Two milk unions, Ichhamati Cooperative Milk Union in West Bengal and Mulukanoor Women’s Mutually Aided Milk Producers Cooperative Union in Andhra Pradesh have evolved as all women cooperative dairies managed and governed by women
