TURA: Along with the rest of the country, National Milk Day 2018 was celebrated on Monday at Multi Facility Centre in Asanang which was attended by the Additional Deputy Commissioner and Project Director, DRDA, West Garo Hills,Tura A M Sangma as the Chief Guest. The programme was organized by the Department of A H & Veterinary, West Garo Hills, Tura.
It may be mentioned that the National Milk Day is celebrated every year on November 26th since the year 2014 by all dairy sectors in India, in order to mark the birth anniversary of the Father of White Revolution Dr. Verghese Kurien.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest congratulated the progressive dairy farmers in the region and urged them to avail the opportunity provided by the concerned department as well as other related line departments and take dairy farming to greater heights in future. Further, informing about the hard work of Dr Kurien, the father of White Revolution, he said that he had transformed the life of the people and have also strengthened the rural economy which is continuing till today. Further, he mentioned that under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, National Livestock Mission is also included for creating financial security to the rural households in the district.
The Retired A H and Veterinary Officer and Special Guest at the function, Dr. Clement A Sangma while addressing the gathering dwelt at length on the history and formation about the revolution of Dr. Verghese Kurien, who with his initiative was able to increase milk production from insufficient to surplus production and is supplying their milk and its products all over the country. He also mentioned how this revolution have helped in transforming the lives of the people and have enhanced their income generation as well.
During the programme, the Chief Guest also distributed the cash prize of Rs. 5000/- each and certificates to the Dairy Farmers namely, Litha B Marak from Chidekgre and Rahen N Sangma from Sanchonggre, who have been awarded for their hard work, dedication in terms of quality, quantity and continuous supply of milk to the Central Dairy Farm at Ganol. Meanwhile, the Special Guest of the function distributed the prizes to the winners of Essay and Drawing Competition which was held earlier for the school students of Rongram block.
At Ampati, the occasion was celebrated in a programme organized by the District Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department to mark the 97th birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the father of White Revolution in India.
A large number of dairy farmers and members of Dairy Cooperative Societies from across the district and Nokmas, officials of the line departments and students participated in the programme. Essay and painting competitions for school children, deliberations on the goodness of milk and importance of dairy farming and felicitation of Best Dairy Farmer and Best Dairy Cooperative Society in the district marked the day’s celebration.
All the participants and guests at the celebration were offered a glass of milk each, which was produced by local dairy farmers. High-yielding variety of cows and dairy products were also displayed in the stalls put up as part of the exhibition.
Participating in the celebration as the chief guest, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ampati, S.K. Marak said the celebration is a mark of gratitude to Dr. Verghese Kurien, whose painstaking efforts has helped to make dairy farming in the country the largest self-sustaining industry. He highlighted on the health benefits of cow milk for both young and old and urged upon all the dairy farmers and dairy cooperative societies in the district to take dairy farming activities on a larger scale so that the district can become self-sufficient in milk production and also provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to many unemployed youth in the sector.