THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), one of India’s biggest dairy co-operatives popularly known as Milma, has demanded that Dr Verghese Kurien, the father of India’s White Revolution, be posthumously bestowed with the nation’s highest honour Bharat Ratna.
Milma also planned year-long programmes across the state to celebrate the birth centenary of Dr Kurien, starting from his birth day November 26, observed as the National Milk Day.
Considering his pioneering services in nurturing dairy farming in the country as a sustainable economic activity up from the grass roots and imparting a big thrust to the Operation Flood, Dr Kurien deserves to be honoured with Bharat Ratna, KCMMF Chairman P A Balan said.
A meeting of the chairpersons of the Milma Regional Unions resolved to take up the demand with the appropriate authorities. Over one lakh dairy farmers, who are members of more than 3600 milk co-operative societies across Kerala, will write to the Prime Minister arendra Modi, pressing for a decision in this regard, Balan said.
The centenary celebrations will be flagged off at Kozhikode, the birth place of Dr Kurien (1921-2012), on November 26, 2021. A life-size statue of Dr Kurien will be put up at the Milma headquarters and busts at the Union headquarters as part of the celebrations. Portraits of Dr Kurien will be unveiled and lamps lighted in all Milk Co-operative Societies on November 26.
Milma will also institute Dr Verghese Kurien memorial awards to be given to outstanding students of Dairy Science Colleges affiliated to the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University by depositing Rs. 5/- Lakhs, Chairman said.
