By the Editor
Until the mid-twentieth century, Anand was a small and insignificant place in Gujarat and very few people outside the state were aware of its existence. Quietly and steadfastly, under the able guidance of Dr Mathew Kurian, a mechanical engineer from Kerala, the co-operative movement for milk production became a huge success and continues to grow quite rapidly. The place now occupies a prestigious position on the Indian map and has become a household name and is also famously known worldwide through its brand name AMUL. It was Kurian who initiated the village Milk Producers Cooperative, a voluntary association in Anand for marketing milk collectively and all Village Milk Producers’ Cooperatives in a district are members of the District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union. Supply of milk by the farmers is very regular and payment is also very prompt. Marketing of products – Amul, butter, Amul cheese, Amul cream, Amul spray, etc. – which are very popular is handled by efficient marketing managers. Pasteurised milk is exported to different parts of the country by means of trucks and railway wagons specially designed for the purpose. Consequently, Operation Flood was conceived in 1970 with the objective of setting up 18 Anand Pattern Milk Cooperative Unions linking with four metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi.
Milk contains several chemicals essential for growth and health. Milk fat, milk sugar (lactose), and milk protein are found only in milk and nowhere else in nature. It is a nourishing liquid food not only for children and sick persons but for all segments of population as well. Calcium in milk builds and hardens bone structure of the human body. For young and growing kids, milk sharpens the brain. Besides calcium, it also contains phosphorus and protein, as well as vitamin A and vitamin B. Until the 1970s, India had to import much to meet its requirement but, soon after, the White Revolution became a grand success in the country which inspires others also. During the 1950s, the United States of America donated large consignment of milk powder to our country meant for school going children to supplement food nutrients in the underdeveloped nations.
The central government aims to get rid of malnutrition in the country by introducing a number of schemes and insisting on healthy motherhood. ‘Nutritious Laddu Distribution’ scheme was started in Gandhinagar, the parliamentary constituency of Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeting about 7,000 pregnant women in Gandhinagar area who will get 15 nutritious laddus free of cost every month till the birth of a child. These special laddus contain protein, ghee, vitamins, nutrients, etc. India is now emerging as a global leader in milk production. The Dairy-Processing Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) was set up by the Government of India to extend help for improvement and modernisation of the sector. In the year 2013-14, India produced 137.6 million tones of milk which jumped to 198.4 million tones within a period of six years in 2019-2020. At this rate, it is estimated that production will nearly double. State government is expected to initiate similar programmes as many of its inhabitants are now taking milk and milk products.