Kolkata : India celebrates
26 November, birth anniversary of Dr Verghese Kurien, the father of India’s
milk revolution, as the National Milk
Day. The dairy cooperative movement inspired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
led to the formation of Amul in 1946, which was replicated across the country,
resulting in India emerging as the largest producer of milk in the world.
Amul, along with its
pioneering role in spreading the milk revolution, is now championing the
circular economy with its BioCNG project to generate fuel from cow-dung. This initiative not only provides farmers
with an additional income source but also offers clean fuel and organic
fertiliser, thus reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a
cleaner environment. By setting up multiple BioCNG plants for processing dung,
it aims to bring in positive and sustainable impact on both agricultural and energy
sectors.
To spread awareness of
clean fuel and sustainability, Amul is
organizing a series of four mega Clean Fuel Rallies across India as part of
National Milk Day celebrations. The rallies, powered by Maruti Suzuki and
Bajaj Auto, aim to raise awareness of the circular economy while honouring the
legacy of India’s dairy cooperatives.
Amul Clean Fuel Rallies will collectively cover
over 5,000 km, starting from four key locations across India: Himmatnagar in Gujarat, Kolkata, Pune, and Jammu to
culminate in New Delhi on November 26th at the National Milk Day
Celebration organized by the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Government of India. This coincides with the event organized by International
Cooperative Alliance (ICA) to officially declare the year 2025 as
‘International Year of Cooperatives’. The conference, themed “Cooperatives
Build Prosperity for All”, will be attended by global leaders, academics and
practitioners. A special screening of Amul's national award winning film
Manthanis also organized at the ICA Global Conference in Bharat Mandapam, New
Delhi, on November 26th.
The Kolkata Rally was flagged off in the esteemed presence of
Mr. Ranjit Singh, Executive Vice President of Sustainability at Maruti Suzuki,
and Mr. Manoranjan Pani, Chief General Manager of GCCMF (Amul), at Eco Park in
Kolkata on 18th Nov.
This rally starting from
Kolkata will cover the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, travelling around
2000 kms. 24 participants from Amul team riding in Maruti Suzuki Bio CNGcars will
engage with farmers, dairy cooperatives, and local communities spreading
awareness about Dr. Kurien’s contribution to the dairy industry. This will also
be an opportunity for Amul to celebrate the success of institutes where Amul
Model was replicated across several sectors in India.
On the occasion of the
Amul Clean Fuel Rally flag off event,
Mr. Kenichiro Toyofuku, Managing Officer Suzuki Motor Corporation remarked, “Maruti Suzuki is joining forces
with Amul for 2nd edition of Clean Fuel Rally to promote Clean Fuel Vehicles
among people to help reduce carbon emissions.
Bio-CNG is the best
option for India to achieve carbon neutral vehicles and rural development
simultaneously. Bio-CNG is better than EV from the viewpoint of global warming
and enriching farmers through sale of cow-dung and soil with organic fertilizer
generated as by product from Bio-CNG plants.
Suzuki is in the process
of implementing 4 Bio-CNG plants in Gujarat in partnership with Amul affiliated
dairy and planning to expand this initiative further.”
Mr. Manoranjan Pani, Chief General Manager of GCCMF (Amul),
addressed the gathering at the event, saying, ““Amul has always been committed
to empowering farmers and promoting sustainable practices. This rally will honour
Dr. Kurien’s legacy and serve as a reminder of the potential of cooperatives in
building a sustainable future for India. We are proud to lead this initiative
and celebrate the cooperative model’s contribution to a greener, more
prosperous world.”
No comments:
Post a Comment