1

Team at VKCoE

Sl.
Role Name of Team Member
No.

1 VKCoE Chair Professor Prof. Dr. Harekrishna Misra

2 Research Fellow Shri Yashobanta Parida

3 Research Fellow Dr. Rajeev Pandey

4 Research Fellow Dr. Avinash Ghule

5 Research Fellow Dr. Sanchayan Nath

6 Research Officer Ms. Neha Christie

7 Research Assistant Shri Priyankkumar Dudhrejiya

8 Research Assistant Ms. Ruby Balchandani

9 Consultant – Communication & Outreach Ms. Shilpa Gole

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 Content
Message from Chairman, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)............................................................................... 4
Message from Director, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA).................................................................................. 5
Message from Chair Professor, Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE)................................................................. 6
Message from Regional Director, International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP)........................................ 7
Message from Managing Director, National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Limited (NCDFI)................................... 8
Message from Acting Director, ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI).................................................................. 9
Message from Secretary, National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT)...................................................................... 10
Message from Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Odisha........................................................................................................11
Message from Vice Chancellor, Anand Agricultural University (AAU)................................................................................... 12
Message from Director, Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM).............................. 13
Message from Principal & Dean, SMC College of Dairy Science......................................................................................... 14
Message from Managing Director, Goa State Co-op Milk Producers’ Union Limited........................................................... 15
Message from Managing Director, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) (AMUL).............................. 16
Message from Managing Director, Jharkhand State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (JMF)..................... 17
Message from Managing Director, Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF)................................................................................... 18
Message from Managing Director, Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (MILMA)...................................... 19
Message from Managing Director, Maharashtra Dudh Mahasangh Maryadit....................................................................... 20

Message from Managing Director, Rajasthan Co-operative Dairy Federation (RCDF)......................................................... 21

Message from Managing Director, MP State Cooperative Dairy Federation (MPCDF)........................................................ 22
Message from Managing Director, Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited........................................................ 24
Message from Managing Director, The Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (Aavin).................. 25
Message from Managing Director, Pradeshik Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited (PCDF), Uttar Pradesh.................... 26
Message from Managing Director, West Assam Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited (Purabi)................................ 27
Introduction to VKCoE............................................................................................................................................................. 28
Projects and Activities Completed So Far.............................................................................................................................. 28
Case Studies Developed......................................................................................................................................................... 28
Occasional Papers Published.................................................................................................................................................. 29
Journal Articles Published........................................................................................................................................................ 29
Conference Papers published................................................................................................................................................. 30
Workshops Conducted............................................................................................................................................................. 30
Media Fellowship Articles published........................................................................................................................................ 30
Ongoing Research Projects..................................................................................................................................................... 31
Proposed Research Projects................................................................................................................................................... 32
A Dedication to Dr. Kurien by Prof. CMA Paresh J. Bhatt – Professor, IRMA and Member, Advisory Committee, VKCoE...... 3 6
Memories of Dr. Verghese Kurien: a Photo Gallery............................................................................................................... 37

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 Message from Chairman
Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)

I am pleased to learn that Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE) is releasing

an information brochure on the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the founder
chairman of Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). VKCoE, established at IRMA
in the year 2015, strives to engage in various activities related to research, publications,
and creation of knowledge base in the cooperative sector with emphasis on dairy
producer collectives. As a centre of excellence, VKCoE has ambitious plans to emerge
as an autonomous entity to widely disseminate its works, and actively engage with
policy makers to ensure that contemporary issues facing dairy producer collectives are
well taken care of. The centre aims to create resources for academicians, researchers
and practitioners as well. In order to pursue this aim, the centre has plans to create
“cooperative database” initially for the dairy sector and later expanding its ambit to other
forms of organizations across sectors.
Dr. Verghese Kurien always believed in excellence in all his endeavours to promote
dairying in India. He believed in excellence in individuals who joined the movement and
organizations he created and nurtured. He also believed that excellence in all forms of
organizations he nurtured would be proven through sustainable dairying in which dairy
farmer producers not only receive remunerative prices for their production, but also could manage their own value chains while
competing in the market. For this purpose, Dr. Kurien conceptualized the ecosystem in which the National Dairy Development
Board (NDDB), Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), National Cooperative Dairy Federation (NCDFI) and
IRMA were nurtured. This ecosystem has delivered the desired results in supporting the objectives of milk revolution, formulating
and implementing National Dairy plans in India while recognizing the emerging challenges faced by small and marginal dairy
farmer producers.
Dairy sector globally and particularly in India, holds promise in managing the value chains to benefit small and marginal dairy
farmers. Needless to say, dairy sector in India has emerged as one of the largest milk producers and has many organizational
forms including cooperatives and producer companies. However, creating an ecosystem for dairying and sustainable value chains
is a challenge. I wish VKCoE would act as a catalyst in documenting the achievements in dairy sector in India, benchmark with
national initiatives around the world and create the desired repository for all stakeholders to take note of.
Alike most centres of excellence, VKCoE has mandated to converge its academic, research and socio-economic objectives while
generating scientific excellence to record technological innovations and effects in cooperative sector having more social objectives.
I am sure VKCoE would emerge as an independent entity in not only creating the knowledge base, but also to emerge as a centre
by establishing high standards in research, publications, advocacy for policy reforms and networking with institutions engaged
for development.
This information brochure elaborates on the ongoing activities of the VKCoE and details its future roadmap. The brochure also
has included messages of the Managing Directors of various Dairy Federations in India. VKCoE has embarked on collaborative
efforts as part of its networking strategies by signing memorandum of understanding (MoU) with premier organizations including
the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal and the International Cooperative Alliance-Asia Pacific (ICA-AP).
I strongly believe that VKCoE has charted its road map well and I wish VKCoE success in its endeavor. I hope that cooperative
sector in general and dairy sector in particular will benefit from the activities of VKCoE.

Dilip Rath
Chairman,
Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)

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 Message from Director
Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)

It gives me immense pleasure to write this message for launch of information brochure
for Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE) on the eve of the birth anniversary
of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the founder chairman of IRMA. IRMA’s mission is to promote
sustainable, ecologically-friendly, and equitable socio-economic development of rural
people through professional management. In a rapidly-growing global economy, IRMA’s
commitment to knowledge creation has led to it being re-invented as a knowledge
institution in addition to excellence in teaching, training and research. Dr. Verghese
Kurien, in his memoir, ‘I too had a dream’, says, “The realization that we cannot depend
upon an ‘accidental’ Kurien, but we need to actively create better Kuriens by carefully
selecting and training them, got me thinking”. He further says, “We needed an institute
to create and strengthen commitment to serving our rural people with dedication and
honesty”. This vision, to fill growing need for professionally trained rural managers for
the cooperative and the NGO sectors of India, was the beginning of yet another dream
– a dream which ultimately took the shape of the Institute of Rural Management Anand
(IRMA) in 1979.
As part of the ecosystem carefully crafted by Dr. Kurien, IRMA by design has been the
birthplace to a number of research centres carrying out research, training and consulting in diverse fields of rural management.
VKCoE, with support of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), is another step in this direction and carries
immense importance in working towards realizing the dream of Dr. Kurien. VKCoE aims to fasten the process of knowledge
creation and its dissemination - keeping rural population and its issues in mind strives to become a research centre renowned
worldwide for its knowledge resources in a unique domain – collectives.
IRMA focuses on research, innovation, knowledge preservation & dissemination, outreach, extension and policy. These are
very important ways to ensure the cooperative model continues to thrive as a unique model of organization building, people
empowerment and entrepreneurship. It also encourages creating a platform for exchanging ideas and innovations to support
building more resilient and sustainable collective models. I am sure VKCoE will emerge as an important platform for such
interactions and exchanges and leapfrog the collective model to the next level.
VKCoE has very ambitious plans for the future and they are listed out in detail in the ensuing brochure. I am very confident that
under the present leadership of Prof. Harekrishna Misra, ably supported by his core team, the Centre will gain national importance.
I wish the Centre good luck in its journey of realizing Dr. Verghese Kurien’s dream and supplement the efforts being made by
IRMA in this direction.

Prof. Hitesh V. Bhatt

Director,
Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)

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 Message from Chair Professor
Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE)

As envisioned by Dr. Verghese Kurien, IRMA since its inception has emerged
as a pioneering institution of excellence through academic activities, research
and publications, imparting training, capacity building and providing consulting
services to its associated and networked sector organizations.

I am fortunate to be a part of the faculty team recruited during the chairmanship of

Dr. Kurien and also more fortunate to have observed his passionate association
with the ecosystem he nurtured. He during regular meetings with faculty team had
always reminded them of their responsibilities towards the holistic development
of the students and stressed on continued research and academic rigour. While
addressing students (he did it very often), he encouraged the young minds to stay
prepared to serve the rural sector organizations and most importantly consider
the farmers and members of the producer organizations as their employers.
He also stressed that students needed to develop entrepreneurial acumen to
traverse path “less travelled by” as opposed to other mainstream managers.
During his formal meetings with participants of management development programmes (MDPs) he usually stressed
that professionals in the sector should be more productive and should inculcate professionalism in whatever role they
had in order to pass on the benefits to their employers i.e., farmers and rural sector organizations.
It is therefore, quite natural for the VKCoE to have its stated objectives around these broad contours of the belief
system passionately nurtured and practiced by Dr. Kurien. Since its inception, VKCoE has taken up various initiatives
to meet its stated objectives. Its work included publications in the form of occasional papers, journal articles, case
studies, conference papers, media fellowship articles and initiated different interventions for advocacy, collaboration
and partnerships. The centre conducted workshops as well. It worked on various and diverse areas across sectors
including cooperatives and farmer producer organizations (FPOs).
VKCoE has embarked on activities for collaborations and networking with national and international academic and
research organizations and policy makers. MoUs are signed with National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal
and the International Cooperative Alliance-Asia Pacific (ICA-AP), New Delhi. Few MoUs are in the process and would
be signed shortly with College of Agriculture Banking (CAB) of the RBI, and Copernicus Institute of Sustainable
Development/Utrecht University and Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat. VKCoE has currently given more
focus on research and publications. The centre has augmented its research team as well to work on diverse and
multi-disciplinary areas.
As regards its future plans, the centre has crafted an ambitious road map. Notable among these plans include a) setting
up of Dr. Verghese Kurien Knowledge Centre, b) working on a project to establish “National Cooperative Database”
initially to focus dairy sector followed by other sectors to support researchers and academicians in their continued
research, c) conduct conferences/ symposium/ workshops.
I take this opportunity to thank GCMMF for supporting the centre in its inception stage. I am also thankful to the advisory
committee of the centre for its continued support to formulate and implement strategies. I am hopeful that with the
continued support of the GCMMF, the centre would be able to execute its planned activities. As the centre strives to
emerge as an autonomous entity at IRMA, it needs active support of government, non-government organizations, and
cooperative federations across sectors including NDDB. The centre plans to have its own corpus in order to remain
autonomous and I am hopeful that with the active support of organizations in the sector and with IRMA faculty, the
centre would be able to fulfil its mandate while attempting to realize the dream of Dr. Verghese Kurien who was once
quoted as saying:
“India’s place in the sun would come from the partnership between wisdom of its rural people and skill of its
professionals”.
Prof. Dr. Harekrishna Misra
Chair Professor,
Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE)

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 Message from Regional Director
International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP)

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is a non-profit international association

established in 1895 to advance the cooperative model. The ICA unites cooperatives
worldwide and is the custodian of the cooperative values and principles and makes
the case for their distinctive values-based economic business model which provides
individuals and communities with an instrument of self-help and influence over their
development. The ICA Asia-Pacific (ICA-AP) Regional Office was established in New
Delhi in 1960 to provide a voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and coordinated
action for and about co-operatives in the region. The ICA-AP members are national
cooperative organizations across 32 countries from all sectors of the economy, including
agriculture, services, banking, retail, fisheries, health, housing and insurance.

As Regional Director of ICA-AP, I visit our member countries which span from Palestine
in the Middle East to Fiji in the Pacific Islands. Co-operatives in these countries vary
in terms of their stages of development, contribution to the economy, and sectors in
which they work. As I often do in India, I ask the question, who are the co-operative
leaders in your country and who outside of your country do you know? Invariably, the
answer to the latter question is Dr. Verghese Kurien! The follow-up question I ask is
why? They are in awe of the 15 million milk producers and 144,500 dairy cooperative societies and that milk is the largest
agricultural crop in India. This they attribute to the way in which dairy co-operatives in India were built as a scalable model, the
adherence to cooperative values, professionalism, and ability to compete and lead in the market place. However, the reason I
believe, co-operatives, hold Dr. Kurien in high regard is his belief in the farmer (or member), need for committed leadership and
for member-controlled co-operatives free from bureaucratic control. As Dr. Kurien himself said, “True democracy will emerge only
when we allow the people to manage. And only when the people begin to take control of their lives will rural development gain
momentum. Only when our farmers are involved in the processes of development will they be able to command their destiny.
True development is the development of women and men.”

At ICA-AP we hold the 5th Cooperative Principle of Education, Training and Information in high regard. “Education” is important
to understand the Co-operative Principles and Values and know how to apply them in the day-to-day operations of a co-operative
business; “Training” is to develop the practical skills members and employees need to run a co-operative in accordance with
efficient and ethical business practices; “Information” is to ensure the general public, but “particularly young people and opinion
leaders”, know about co-operative enterprise. For this we are grateful to Dr. Kurien who built, nurtured and managed institutions
of excellence like AMUL, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), National Dairy Development Board, and the
Institute of Rural Management, Anand. As an alumnus of IRMA, I am eternally indebted to Dr. Kurien!

In 2000, the ICA Board established the Rochdale Pioneers Award. The purpose of this Award is to recognize a person or, under
special circumstances a cooperative organization, having contributed to innovative and financially sustainable cooperative activities
that have significantly benefited their membership. The First Rochdale Pioneer Award was given to Dr. Kurien.

Balasubramanian Iyer
Regional Director
International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP)

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 Message from Managing Director
National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Limited (NCDFI)

It is a matter of immense pleasure that Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE)

IRMA is releasing an information brochure on Dr Kurien’s Birthday i.e. 26th November
2018.
The dairy cooperative movement spearheaded by Dr Kurien brought about a paradigm
shift in Indian dairy industry. Dairying being a primarily small holder livelihood activity
posed a diverse set of challenges owing to the unique nature of the commodity as well
as the uneven spread of the dairy farmers. Dr Kurien led the way in overcoming these
challenges making India World’s Largest Milk producer from being a milk deficient nation
post-independence. While creating a farmer centred dairy ecosystem, Dr Kurien created
sustainable institutions in villages and at every subsequent layer. National Cooperative
Dairy Federation of India Ltd (NCDFI) is one such institution created to facilitate the
working of Dairy Cooperatives through Coordination, Networking and Advocacy.
NCDFI is an apex body of dairy cooperatives. National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
along with 27 State Cooperative Dairy Federations / Apex Unions are members of NCDFI
who are associated with 218 District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Unions and in turn
16.3 million farmers. NCDFI is working closely with dairy cooperatives and other affiliated organisations to promote dairy industry
and other commodities on cooperative lines.
NCDFI is primarily engaged in Coordination of milk and milk product supplies to Ministry of Defence for the last three decades;
Functioning as C&F agent for frozen semen doses produced by the semen stations either owned or managed by NDDB Dairy
Services; and Coordinating sale and purchase of dairy and agri commodities through NCDFI eMarket. This is an online marketplace
created pivoting technology to create efficient and transparent marketplace to ensure timely disposal/procurement of commodities
so as to streamline the operations of cooperatives and guaranteeing the farmer earns a higher percentage of the consumer rupee.
Being an apex body of dairy cooperatives, NCDFI represents the cooperatives at national level and also takes up the cause of
promotion of dairy farmers’ interest with policy makers. NCDFI utilizes part of its surplus in spreading awareness on topics such as
clean milk programs, cooperative governance, productivity of animals, artificial insemination, ration balancing, etc through Training
Programs / Seminars / Workshops / Management Development Programs etc.
I was fortunate to be a part of Dr Kurien’s team from 1983. As a young professional joining the dairy sector, the principles imbibed
by Dr Kurien still resonate strongly. Some of the major learnings for me were:
1. You are a servant of the farmer. Whenever you go to a farmer, go with folded hands.
2. Never say “No”. It’s okay if you try and fail, but never give up without trying.
3. Always think big.
Over the years, NCDFI has remained true to the vision shown by Dr. Kurien and I feel proud to remain associated with this
vision over the last 35 years.
Today, NCDFI reiterates its commitment to continuously working towards effecting positive changes in the lives of millions of milk
producers of our country as a tribute to the Father of White Revolution; the Milk Man of India.
I express my best wishes for the publication of the information brochure from IRMA.

K C Supekar
Managing Director,
National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Limited (NCDFI)

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 Message from Acting Director
ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI)

CAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal is committed to ensure availability

of quality milk and milk products at affordable cost, livelihood security to the producers
and profitability to the dairy sector through generation and dissemination of appropriate
technologies.

The institute has been mandated to carry out research for generation of knowledge aimed
at improved national milch herd for milk production enhancement, greater productivity
of the dairy industry and management of the dairy enterprise leading to the social,
economic and environmental benefits to the Nation. The cross-breeds developed at the
institute in the seventies and production of elite Murrah buffalo Bulls in the subsequent
years have contributed significantly to catalysing white revolution in the country. Apart
from this, research on development of tests/ kits to detect adulterants and contaminants
and value-added dairy products have led to the availability of safe and nutritious foods
to the consumers.

ICAR-NDRI is the only institute in the whole of Asia which conducts research for
development of technologies cutting across all the three major domains of dairy science
under one roof: production, processing and management. Over more than nine decades of its existence, the institute has provided
quality human resources to meet the manpower requirements of all spheres of dairy development programmes and leadership to
many dairy institutions in the country. It offers four tier academic programmes starting from 2 years diploma to Doctoral programs
in sixteen disciplines.

The Father of white revolution in India- Dr Verghese Kurien was an alumnus of NDRI. Dr. Kurien received a Government of India
overseas scholarship to study Dairy engineering and before joining Michigan State University for his Master’s Degree in Mechanical
Engineering with Dairy Engineering as minor subject, underwent nine months of specialized training in Dairy Engineering at the
Imperial Institute of Dairying at Bangalore (Now National Dairy Research institute, Karnal). After completing his Masters degree he
arrived at Anand and established “AMUL”. To realize his dream – “Empowering the farmers of India”, the institute has continued
research efforts on genetic improvement of milch animals, improved feeding strategies & efficient nutrient utilization, value addition
to dairy products, development of new generation tools for ensuring quality of milk and promoting dairy enterprise through transfer
of technologies, supply chain management, and better market access.

I congratulate IRMA for having decided to bring out information brochure of VKCoE to commemorate birth anniversary of Dr.
Kurien.

Dr. R.R.B. Singh

Acting Director,
ICAR-NDRI

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 Message from Secretary
National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT)

In the changed global and liberalized economic scenario, all economic enterprises are
under tremendous pressure to sustain in the stiff competition. Among such enterprises,
the cooperatives are supposed to play a vital role for sustainable development and
inclusive growth of the weaker section of the populace.
In this backdrop, I would like to appraise that National Council for Cooperative Training
(NCCT) is engaged in evolving suitable training systems for enhancing the capabilities of
cooperatives so that they could respond well to the emerging challenges of a competitive
national economy. The NCCT has built up a well-knit institutional set up of cooperative
training consisting of the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management
(VAMNICOM) for training of senior executives, 5 Regional Institutes of Cooperative
Management (RICMs) & 14 Institute of Cooperative Management (ICMs) for middle level
functionaries. All these units of NCCT are conducting training programmes for different
sectors such as Agri Credit/Credit & Banking, Urban Cooperative Banking, Long Term
Finance, Cooperative Marketing & Processing, Industrial Cooperatives, Consumer
Cooperatives, Handloom Cooperatives, Micro Credit, Computer, Dairy Cooperatives etc.
Many of our Institutes organize training programmes for Dairy Cooperatives not only as
per the need of user organizations but also strive hard to organize programmes for Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies
and their Board of Directors to sensitize them to make farmer members aware to concentrate on agri allied activities to enhance
their income. Dairy business is one of the prominent business activities which can be comfortably carried out in villages by taking
loans from the PACS. It is worthwhile to mention here that our units conducted 161 programmes and trained 4648 participants
in the Dairy Sector during 2017-18.
On this auspicious occasion, I take this opportunity to extend my sincere greetings and best wishes to all the dignitaries and other
functionaries associated to make this event (Birth Anniversary of Founder of White Revolution Late Dr. V. Kurien) a grand success.

Mohan Kumar Mishra,

Secretary,
NCCT

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 Message from Registrar
Cooperative Societies, Odisha

I am immensely delighted to learn that IRMA is celebrating 26th November as the

“National Milk Day” and releasing a Souvenir, on this auspicious occasion. 26th
November is synchronized with the Birth Anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien who is
“Iconic Father of Modern Cooperative Movement especially Dairy Cooperative” in India
based on professional excellence. Dr. Kurien is known as “Father of White Revolution
in India”. Through his unique and innovative ideas and social entrepreneurship—he
translated his dream “Billion Litre Idea”, “Operation Flood” in to a reality. This Operation
Flood Programme had gradually grown into the world’s largest agricultural dairy
development programme contributing it to become a self-sufficient industry providing
vast employment opportunity to rural people and augmenting standard of living of
millions of people in India. This programme has multidimensional positive effects, raising
income level, credit worthiness, nutrition level, education and empowerment. He was the
pioneer of formulation of policy guideline and implementation of Anand Pattern which
has brought about unprecedented changes in the scale of operation and activities of
Dairy Cooperative in India. Time and space are serious constraints to describe and
acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Kurien to the economic development and self-
sufficiency of India.
Odisha is also immensely benefited by the vision and spirit of Dr. Kurien on the Anand Pattern. The Odisha Milk Marketing
Cooperative Federation- “OMFED” has become a preferred household name like Mother Dairy in New Delhi and other metros. It
is a State Level apex cooperative organization in Dairy Cooperative following the Anand Pattern. It is a federation of 5,852 District
Cooperative Milk Unions with 2,61,295 farmers as its members. It had procured 5,08,102 kilo litres (KPD) of milk at the close
of the financial year 2017-18 having a turnover of Rs.753.07 crores with profit of Rs.58.78 crores. It has achieved the status of
surplus procurement of milk and exporting to neighbouring states. It has infused professionalism, scientific storage and logistic
system to support the Dairy Cooperative and its farmers. Still we have a long way to go in this regard.
Still miles to go to accomplish the cherished dream of Dr. Kurien. It requires sincere and relentless endeavour, determination
and commitment.
I am optimistic that the professional guidance of IRMA and Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence will foster convergence of ideas,
programme and resources. With sincere endeavour of all stakeholders, we will fulfil the dream of Dr. Kurien and make India the
world’s strongest and sustainable Dairy Power.
I sincerely wish all success for the Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence.

Long Live Dairy Cooperative

Dr. Tribikram Pradhan, IAS,

Registrar
Cooperative Societies, Odisha, Bhubhaneswar

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 Message from Vice Chancellor
Anand Agricultural University (AAU)

I am happy to learn that Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE) has been set
up at IRMA and is being formally launched on the birth anniversary of Dr. Kurien, 26th
November, 2018. Dr. Kurien, father of the White Revolution, was the architect of India’s
dairy industry, which helped India emerge as the largest milk producer in the world.
He guided the dairy co-operative movement in India and brought social and economic
development in the lives of millions of milk producers of the country. The cooperative
movement became a model not only for India, but for developing countries throughout
the world. Dr. Kurien was the undisputed ‘Milkman’ of India.

Dr. Kurien has a long association with the then Institute of Agriculture and Gujarat
Agricultural University (GAU). He served the university in the capacity of Hon’ble Vice
Chancellor and contributed to development of academic and research programmes.
Anand Agricultural University is carved out of the then GAU is at present in the list of
top 100 institutions in the country for higher education. The university is working for the
service of the society in general and farmers with its three mandated areas of work viz.,
Education, Research and Extension Education.

SMC College of Dairy Science of Anand Agricultural University (AAU) is one of the oldest institutions known for its quality
manpower and research work and is recognized as a Centre of Excellence for Dairy Education by ICAR-NDDB joint panel. Dr.
Kurien has helped in development of this college and his most significant contribution is the establishment of Vidya Dairy for
providing hands-on experience of dairy operation to the students of our Dairy Science College. GAU and now AAU has long
standing relationship with the organizations created by Dr. Kurien, viz., NDDB, IRMA and GCMMF. We are collaborating in training
and research programmes.

I congratulate the Director, IRMA and whole team for organizing the formal launching of VKCoE; thereby celebrating the birthday
of Dr.V. Kurien. I am sure, the Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE) will contribute immensely following the path shown
by Dr.V. Kurien.

My best wishes to all attending this event. .

Dr. N.C. Patel

Vice Chancellor,
Anand Agricultural University (AAU)

12
 Message from Director
Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM)

I am happy to learn that Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE) at Institute

of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) is going to be dedicated to the nation on 26th
November 2018. November 26th is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese
Kurien - the architect of India’s Cooperative Dairy Industry. Dr. Kurien is known as the
father of country’s white revolution. It is due to his apt leadership which helped India
to witness effective and efficient dairy cooperative movement with a view to bring in
much needed socio-economic development of millions of farmer households. Under Dr.
Kurien’s able guidance, the dairy cooperatives became a mass movement of cooperation
and paved the way to unshackle the age old problems of economic underdevelopment
in our villages. The cooperative movement in dairy sector in India has now become a
vibrant viable and replicable model of livelihood security not only in India but also in
other developing and under-developed nations.
On this pious day, Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management
(VAMNICOM) extends its salutation to the modern architect of the country’s dairy
cooperative movement. As a national level apex Cooperative Management Institute under
the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, VAMNICOM aims
at human resource development in the cooperative sector by offering training, research, education and consultancy services. This
Institute has undertaken a series of training programmes for dairy cooperatives drawn from various states of the country and has
successfully imparted new knowledge and training inputs to ensure smooth, effortless and active operation of client cooperative
institutions. VAMNICOM has conducted various IT based training and consultancy activities to update, restore and promote the
essence of cooperation inbuilt into various activities of such cooperative entities. Whenever this Institute has had a chance to
impart skills within the human resources of dairy cooperatives, it reminisced the great and unforgettable contribution of Dr. V.
Kurien towards the introduction, initiation and popularisation of such a wonderful, workable and profitable Dairy Development
Model in India and abroad.
VAMNICOM, through its another wing - Centre for International Cooperation and Training in Agricultural Banking (CICTAB) has
tried to popularise the concept of cooperative dairy development and went ahead to spread the wisdom of Dr. Kurien on dairy
cooperative management in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries through extensive
knowledge exchange and training of trainers programmes on cooperatives. VAMNICOM has had a long standing relationship with
IRMA. VAMNICOM really cherishes its relationship with IRMA for fulfilling its dire requirements of future co-operators, cooperative
planners and policy makers and future agri-business managers.
VAMNICOM conveys its deep sense of pleasure on the scheduled celebration and takes this opportunity to congratulate the
Director IRMA and his team for paying such a rich tribute to the doyen of Indian dairy cooperative movement by launching the
VKCoE on 26th November 2018. I am confident that the VKCoE will contribute humongously to the cooperative sector and will
play the role of a torch bearer by spreading the invaluable cooperation philosophy of Dr. Kurien and his incredible teachings.
experiences and values to create an enabling environment for all-round cooperative development in India and the world.

I wish the endeavour a grand success.

Dr. K. K. Tripathy, IES,

Director,
VAMNICOM

13
 Message from Principal & Dean
SMC College of Dairy Science

I am happy to learn that a special information brochure is being released by Verghese

Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE) on his birth anniversary, i.e. 26th November 2018,
which is being celebrated by us as National Milk Day. Name of Dr Kurien has become
synonymous to Dairying due to his momentous contribution to Indian Dairy Industry. The
designer of Anand pattern cooperative model will always be remembered by millions of
farmers of India. The cooperative movement has not only promoted dairy development,
but it has brought socio-economic revolution. It has improved the living status of rural
poor, who lived by rearing one or two cows or buffaloes.
Dr. Kurien was a well-wisher of SMC College of Dairy Science. He wanted that the
dairy technology graduates must have enough practical skills to handle the dairy
independently and as a means to provide hands-on training to our graduates, he put
forth the concept of “Vidya dairy”. This dairy is a unique creation of Dr. Kurien, which is
for the students, by the students and of the students. Along with giving all round training
to the students, it has maintained its commercial viability. It also acts as a training
center for dairy professionals. The world leaders in dairy profession have appreciated
the working model of the dairy. Dr. Kurien’s professional approach and wisdom made
a unique board of directors of the dairy, where NDDB, GCMMF and Kaira Union were represented and the Principal of SMC
College Dairy Science is nominated as the Chairman. His love for Vidya and the students was seen from his presence to bless
every batch of students at Vidya Dairy. He always cared for the organizations he created.
I had a privilege of working with him when we established “Swedish South Asian Network on Fermented Foods” in 2003 under
the chairmanship of Dr. Baboo Nair, an ex-NDDB loyal involved in initial phase of operation Flood program, who is now Professor
Emeritus at Lund University, Sweden. Dr Kurien acted as a member of our Advisory committee and remained present in all
our programs organized at IRMA and AAU. I remember his comments when we approached him for establishing the Gujarat
State Chapter of Indian Dairy Association and bless its inaugural seminar on 27th January 1998. He advised not to start any
organization which cannot be sustained and if you want me to inaugurate, you will have to keep it active. Everybody knows that
the State chapter is still doing several activities for milk producers, dairy industry and the students.

I congratulate GCMMF and IRMA for establishment of VKCoE which will work for the benefit of the dairy industry directed towards
overall growth and development of rural dairy farmers. I wish a great success to VKCoE.

Dr. J.B. Prajapati

Principal & Dean,
SMC College of Dairy Science

14
 Message from Managing Director
The Goa State Co-op Milk Producers’ Union Limited

It gives me immense pleasure to know that Verghese Kurien Centre is releasing an

information brochure on the eve of birth Anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien.

GOA is also known as ‘Gomanchal’ – the name itself suggests it’s a land of cows. Cow
rearing and agriculture have been the predominant professions in Goa. In 1967 in order
to meet the local demand of good quality milk, a milk pasteurization plant of 1000 LPD
was established in the Goa state by the great visionary leader Dr. Verghese Kurien that
made the beginning of dairy development in the state.

The Goa State Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd “Goa Dairy”, is a Federal Body
of 178 Rural Dairy Co-operative Societies spread all over the State of Goa, having
19,100 farmer families as their members. Being an apex body and the only Milk Union
in the State, it has a status of State Milk Federation, and therefore shoulders the
responsibility to plan and implement the various developmental activities for the Dairy
Development in the State.

Presence of Dairy Co-operative Societies in the rural area has acted as catalyst and nucleus to bring the rural masses on one
forum for development. The emergence of the Tourism and Mining Industry in the Goa state has posed a challenge to dairy
farming by way of generation of white-collar employment. Tourism contributes to pollution but it is also creating demand and
opportunities for dairy products in the state. In this, dairying plays a major role, with increased awareness of the deterioration
of environment. Dairying has created employment and entrepreneurial opportunities which will not only balance the ecology and
benefit the environment but also make the State of Goa financially sound.

I extend my best wishes and a great success to the organizers.

Dr. R. B. Dhuri
Managing Director.
The Goa State Co-op Milk Producers’ Union Limited

15
 Message from Managing Director
Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) (AMUL)

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd, Anand (Amul) is the largest
food product organisation of India with annual turnover of Rs. 29,225 crores (4.5 billion
dollars) during 2017-18.
It is the apex organization of the Dairy Cooperatives of Gujarat. State of Gujarat has
been a pioneer in organizing dairy cooperatives and its success has not only been
emulated in India but serves as a model for rest of the World.
Over the last seven decades, Dairy Cooperatives in Gujarat have created an economic
network that links more than 3.6 million village milk producers with millions of consumers
in India and abroad through a cooperative system that includes 18,600 Village Dairy
Cooperative Societies (VDCS) at the village level, affiliated to 18 District Cooperative
Milk Producers’ Unions at the District level and GCMMF at the State level.
These cooperatives collect on an average 260 Lakhs Litres of milk per day (26 million
litres per day) from their producer members, more than 70% of whom are small,
marginal farmers and landless labourers and include a sizeable population of tribal folk
and people belonging to the scheduled castes.
The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. cannot be viewed simply as a business enterprise. It is an institution
created by the milk producers themselves to primarily safeguard their interest economically, socially as well as democratically.
Business houses create profit in order to distribute it to the shareholders. In the case of GCMMF, the surplus is ploughed
back to farmers through the District Unions as well as the village societies. This circulation of capital with value addition within
the structure not only benefits the final beneficiary – the farmer – but eventually contributes to the development of the village
community. GCMMF ploughed back around 23,350 crores (USD 3.5 billion) per year to rural villages of Gujarat.
The legendary Dr. Verghese Kurien had done pioneering work to give impetus to Cooperative movement in India- especially in
Dairy. It was due to his ground breaking work that not only India has become surplus in milk availability but also the Cooperatives
are the major players in Dairy sector- thus providing more benefits to the producers, better market linkages, better allied service
for the wholesome development of entire Dairy ecosystem.
The way he shaped, guided and fostered Dairy development has become a template worldwide for developing cooperatives which
leads to emancipation of poor, especially farmer producers.
To achieve these extraordinary milestones he undertook many important steps including setting up strategically important
institutions or organizations to address overwhelming challenges of that era like increase milk production, create managerial
talent, etc. Befittingly these institutions did commendable work and surpassed all expectations- expectations which we could not
even dream of few decades back.
The present era of farmer producer organization has thrusted upon us newer challenges like how to leverage technology to
improve farm to fork linkages, optimize milk collection, create robust ecosystem for small cooperatives, better marketing of
products, suitable policies for farmers, etc. VKCoE will try to understand these issues by undertaking research and disseminate
the findings through various modes.
I hope it will collaborate with like minded organizations to break new frontiers which will further lead to development of Dairy,
Cooperative and Agriculture by overcoming the new age problems that these sectors are facing thus benefiting millions of farmers
and agricultural producers not only in India but also throughout the world.
As Dr. Kurien had aptly said “True democracy will emerge only when we allow the people to manage. And only when the people
begin to take control of their lives will rural development gain momentum, when goods and services produced by rural areas will
get better terms of trade than goods and services produced in the cities. Only when our farmers are involved in the processes of
development will they be able to command their destiny. True development is the development of women and men.”
IRMA and VKCoE will play a central role in achieving these long cherished goals of our founding fathers. Their work will go a
long way in creating a better world by eliminating poverty, by ensuring food security and by mainstreaming ecologically beneficial
entrepreneurship through the development of Dairy, Agriculture and Cooperatives.
I wish VKCoE all the best in this noble endeavor

R. S. Sodhi
Managing Director,
Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., (GCMMF) (AMUL)

16
 Message from Managing Director
The Jharkhand State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (JMF)

I am happy to learn that Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE), IRMA is

releasing an information brochure on Dr. Kurien’s Birthday i.e. 26th November 2018.
In my view, Dr Kurien’s main contribution lies in developing systems and institutions, which
enabled our milk producers to develop themselves, as he believed that development
of a man can be best achieved by putting the tools of development in his own hand.
In line with above, Jharkhand Milk Federation (JMF), which is being managed by
NDDB, is continuously working to improve the livelihood of dairy farmers in the state
of Jharkhand. The major focus of JMF is to encourage local rural production of milk
by ensuring a year around, twice a day, stable market and remunerative prices to the
milk producers of Jharkhand at their doorstep. The emphasis is to transfer maximum
share of the Consumer rupee to the rural milk producers. Extension programmes, skill
development and capacity building of the milk producers – especially women - and the
village level functionaries, is an integral part of the functioning of JMF.
Currently, it is procuring 1,30,000 litres of milk per day from more than 20,000 farmer
members through 550 Milk Pooling Points covering 15 districts of Jharkhand & has
paid more than Rs.102 crores to farmers of Jharkhand in the year 2017-18 as price of milk supplied by them and the amount
is directly being transferred to their bank account on regular basis. Further, the Jharkhand Milk Federation is marketing around
80,000 Litres of milk & milk products through its approximately 3,000 outlets across Jharkhand. Apart from milk procurement,
processing and marketing, JMF has also taken initiatives towards productivity enhancement of dairy animals of the state through
different input activities like supply of compound cattle feed, supply of improved variety fodder seeds, manufacture & supply of
chelated mineral mixture etc.
In times to come, JMF will reach out to many more milk producers and bring them under organised milk collection system.
I would like to congratulate IRMA for this excellent initiative and wish them success in this endeavour.

A. C. Sinha
Managing Director,
The Jharkhand State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (Medha)

17
 Message from Managing Director
Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF)

Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) is the largest Cooperative Dairy Federation in South
India, owned and managed by milk producers of Karnataka State. During the last four
decades of Cooperative Dairy Development by KMF, the dairy industry in Karnataka
has progressed from a situation of milk-scarcity to that of milk-surplus. KMF presently
procures an average of 76.36 Lakh Kgs of milk per day with peak touching 84.44 Lakh
Kgs during this year.
“Quality Excellence from Cow to Consumer” – is the motto of the Federation by obtaining
better quality Milk and milk products from our value chain (Procurement - Processing -
Marketing). In a way KMF brand ‘Nandini’ Milk and Milk Products are “Spreading wealth
of health”.
The KMF has strived hard to create a supportive and conducive environment for the
holistic growth of Dairy Cooperatives as autonomous economic and social institutions.
This has resulted in Dairy Cooperatives of the state to significantly contribute for creating
a self-reliant and vibrant rural economy in Karnataka.
KMF follows the Anand Pattern - Three tier organization structure. KMF is one of the
few federations in the country, who have converted dairying from a subsidiary occupation into an industry. The instruments of
dairy development of the state are effectively in the hands of the milk producers themselves. The primary milk producers are
democratically governing the entire federal cooperative structure of the Federation. This has helped the higher tier organizations
to understand needs of the root levels to serve them better. The gains from the effective functioning of all the three tiers are
flowing back to the milk producers in a significant measure.
After four decades of Cooperative Dairy development, the KMF is successful in reaching over 2.45 million farmer families in
22,789 villages, thereby covering more than 80% of the villages in the State. Up to now, 14,388 Dairy Cooperative Societies
(DCS) have been formed, of which 3,796 constitute exclusive women DCS. A fact that more than 97% of the DCS are in profit,
reflects the efficient & successful functioning of dairy Cooperative system.
The KMF has implemented efficient and effective producer-responsive procurement and input system for boosting milk production
in the state. Genetic upgradation of bovines, control of diseases, providing timely veterinary health care and first-aid facilities,
accelerating fodder development, implementation of artificial insemination programs, supply of balanced Cattle feed, inculcation of
modern animal husbandry practices among farmers and other production enhancement activities have provided significant impetus
to the growth of milk production and procurement in the State.
Concerted efforts are being made constantly to build the capacities of the member producers. The KMF has made large investments
in member education and training. The Federation has one central training institute and two Regional training centres, strategically
located in different regions of the state. Today the milk producers of Karnataka are better informed about technologies and
economics of more efficient and quality milk production and motivated for higher achievements in dairying. KMF is by-and-large
successful in providing a viable subsidiary occupation to rural farmers and resulted as a boon at the turbulent times of agricultural
fallouts, along with supply of adequate quantity of quality milk at reasonable prices to urban consumers.
Acknowledging the enormous fast paced growth of KMF Dr. V. Kurien once stated “When I witness the pace at which the
Dairymen of Karnataka are progressing, I fear that they may overtake our AMUL. But I also ardently desire that they surge ahead”.
We at KMF look forward to walk in the pathway of legendary milk man of India Dr. V. Kurien and strive relentlessly towards our
mission to usher rural prosperity through dairy development.

Rakesh Singh, IAS,

Managing Director,
Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF)

18
 Message from Managing Director
Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (MILMA)

The hope that Dr. Kurien brought in the lives of millions in the country will always be
remembered with gratitude. With his far-sighted vision, Dr. Verghese Kurien kick-started
a co-operative milk movement that transformed India into the largest milk producing
country in the entire world. We have secured self-sufficiency for India in the dairy
sector propelling our nation towards a position of eminence on the global dairy map.
Dr. Kurien’s creation of community-owned co-operatives empowered millions of rural
families, most of whom were landless and small farmers. A man of strong convictions,
determination, and integrity, he truly is a giant of post-independence India. In creating
the means by which farmers could get remunerative, stable incomes, even while
professionals managed their interactions with the modern market economy, Dr. Kurien
created a uniquely Indian model that has brought millions out of poverty.
We, Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, popularly known as MILMA, set
up in 1980, with the goal of ensuring socio economic progress of the dairy farmer
through procuring, processing and marketing of milk, MILMA has been operating on the
democratic lines of “of the farmer, by the farmer and for the farmer”, ever since. The
three tier system with village, regional and apex level that MILMA has been following,
has been a model of success in Kerala, since it ensures that the farmer members are directly responsible for policy level
decisions. MILMA has grown to the level of collecting over 12.50 lakh litres of milk and selling nearly 13 lakh litres of milk per
day and having an array of milk products for sale under different categories. The most benevolent gesture of this organization is
that it passes on 83% of the sales revenue to the farmers as price of milk. The sales turnover of over Rs.3000 crore per year
is also impressive in the Kerala context. What is more impressive is that the MILMA family has the strength of over eight lakh
farmer members and it directly and indirectly employs around 25,000 citizens.
At his 97th birth anniversary on 26.11.2018, we cherish his service to the humanity. We are indebted to this great visionary, who
showed the people the way to remunerative livelihoods, perhaps the best form of economic inclusion.

Dr. P. Pugazhendi, IFS,

Managing Director,
Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (MILMA)

19
 Message from Managing Director
Maharashtra Dudh Mahasangh Maryadit

Verghese Kurien, the man behind the milk revolution in India, always believed that
India was destined to become the world’s largest producer of milk. He succeeded in
translating this belief into reality by creating the milk cooperative Movement which
changed India from being a milk importing country into a milk exporting nation.
The logic behind the faith of Kurien is simple. India has a population of more than one
billion. These people must be fed, and that will always remain the foremost concern of
any government. Moreover, with a majority of India’s population employed in farmlands,
farming will continue to remain critically important, both politically and socially.
Kurien was largely responsible for this, with the establishment of dairy cooperatives
through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) under the programme named
Operation Flood. He helped to create a formidable marketing machine, which he
described as “A massive network collecting milk from farmers, testing it, grading it,
transporting it twice a day from villages to dairy plants, processing it, packing it and
sending it to the market in big and small towns every single day of the year.
Kurien often says, “Other countries will need to grow food for cattle Not India.” Not
surprisingly, by 1998, India overtook the US as the world’s largest milk producer.
Mahanand is an apex cooperative dairy federation in the State of Maharashtra and is responsible for marketing of milk and milk
products. Mahanand established milk processing & packing units at various parts in Maharashtra to achieve uniform development
of co-operative dairies and equitable distribution of benefits to member milk unions. Numerically, Mahanand is very large and
represents the entire dairy cooperative movement of Maharashtra. There are 85 member milk unions, about 19000 primary co-
operative societies, about 5.5 lakh members and a total milk handling capacity of 11.55 llpd. Mahanand has a very well recognized
brand name and logo. It follows a three-tier co-operative structure. The first level comprises of milk procurement system at village
level. The second level facilitates the movement of milk from co-operative societies to milk unions with the help of chilling centres
and effective transportation system. The third level, Mahanand takes care of final processing and marketing. Mahanand has a
very well-defined supply chain management. Mahanand follows integrated management system to ensure quality control in overall
functioning of the unit. The organization has been approved by ISO9001 and HACCP quality accreditation.
The challenges faced by Mahanand at procurement level are perishability of milk, poor management of co-operative societies,
lower productivity of cattle, low returns and lack of automation at grassroot level. The challenges faced at processing level are
availability of milk, low quality standard, lack of co-operation, automation and multiple processing units. The challenges faced
by Mahanand at marketing level are increasing competition, dominance of unorganized sector, lack of co-operation, inadequate
promotion and distribution.
My heartiest wishes on occasion – birth anniversary of ‘Father of White Revolution of India’.

G. C. Mangle, IAS
Managing Director
Maharashtra Dudh Mahasangh Maryadit

20
 Message from Managing Director
Rajasthan Co-operative Dairy Federation (RCDF)

It gives me immense pleasure to note that Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence

(VKCoE) proposes to release an information brochure on Dr. Kurien’s birthday i.e. 26th
November, 2018. It is also a matter of great pleasure for all of us that National Milk
Day is celebrated every year on 26th November to commemorate the Birth Anniversary
of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of White Revolution in India.
Dr. Verghese Kurien, popularly known as the “Indian Dairyman” is no more with us but
will be remembered forever for his “billion-litre idea” Operation Flood- the world’s largest
agricultural dairy development programme that made dairy farming India’s largest self-
sustaining industry and the largest rural employment provider. It made India the world’s
largest milk producer from a milk-deficient nation. He pioneered the “Anand pattern” of
Dairy Co-operatives to replicate it nationwide. Dr. Kurien, an Engineer by profession
made “Amul” the largest milk brand of Asia. A small co-operative dairy set-up by him in
Gujarat in 1949 collecting 230 kg of milk a day is now selling more than one crore litres
a day under the brand name Amul. He also made India self-sufficient in edible oils. His
work has lifted millions out of poverty in India and outside.
Rajasthan had been fortunate enough to have a very close association with Dr. Kurien as Chairman of National Dairy Development
Board, Anand. During his Chairmanship, the management of Rajasthan Co-operative Dairy Federation was handed over to NDDB
for a period of 10 years during 1992 to 2001. At the time of its hand over to NDDB, RCDF was collecting an average 4 lakh
litres of milk every day. RCDF is now collecting some 25-30 lakh litres of Milk from more than 14 thousand dairy co-operative
societies in the State. RCDF, for the last more than 18 years, has been earning profits and has now become a financially viable
organisation. A number of schemes for the social and economic upliftment of the poor milk producers of the State have been
initiated by RCDF. Rajasthan’s brand Saras is not just dominating its own state markets today but intervening in neighbouring
states also. In its turn around, the management policies of NDDB under the able leadership of Dr. Kurien played a vital role.
While appreciating the initiative proposed by Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE), I extend my good wishes for the
proposed celebration of birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien.

Zakir Hussain, IAS,

Managing Director,
Rajasthan Co-operative Dairy Federation (RCDF)

21
 Message from Managing Director
MP State Cooperative Dairy Federation (MPCDF)

MP State Cooperative Dairy Federation (MPCDF) is the apex level organisation in the
system of famous “Anand” pattern dairy cooperative organisations in Madhya Pradesh.
At the first level there are 7190 functional Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs) and at
the second level there are 6 cooperative milk unions.
In the state, the dairying is the most preferred supplementary activity of agriculture. It
is the major tool for doubling the farmers’ income.
The infrastructure available with the milk unions under cooperative sector in the State
can be summarized as hereunder:
✦ 6 Milk Unions
✦ 7190 Functional Dairy Cooperative Societies
✦ 510 Bulk Milk Cooler of 7.63 LLPD capacity
✦ 71 Chilling Centre of 5.66 LLPD capacity
✦ 6 Main Dairy Plants of 11.30 LLPD capacity
✦ 11 Mini Dairy Plants of 2.30 LLPD capacity
✦ 2 Powder Plants 20 MTPD capacity
✦ 5 Cattlefeed Plants of 550 MTPD capacity

For consumers, pasteurized liquid milk of various qualities like Full Cream, Standard, Toned, Double Toned, Cow, Chah, Chai
Special and Skim in sachets are marketed in the nearby cities and towns by all the individual Milk Unions (Bhopal, lndore, Ujjain,
Gwalior, Jabalpur & Sagar) under the brand name of “Sanchi”. They also manufacture a whole range of milk products like Ghee,
Table Butter, Shrikhand, Butter Milk, Flavoured Milk (in bottles and sachets), Sweet Curd, Plain Curd, Peda, Plain & Salted Butter
Milk, Paneer, Chhena Kheer, Probiotic Curd, Nariyal Barfi, Milk Cake, Rasgulla, Gulab Jamun, Gulab Jamun Mix, Coffee Mix, etc.
to cater to their local markets.

The major achievements are:

✦ Creation of employment opportunities to nearly 2.5 lakh rural milk producers and active promotion of the various facts of
rural development
✦ During 2017-18 average 11.02 lakh kilogram per day milk procurement.
✦ Fair & remunerative milk purchase price to the milk producer members. Milk unions are transferring average 77% of total
net receipt to the milk producers as purchase price. During 2017-18 Rs. 1429 Crores were paid rural milk producers as raw
milk purchase price.
✦ To increase the coverage of dairy cooperative activities, opening of collections centres in the milk potential villages. During
2017-18 more than 3000 collection centres were opened.
✦ Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur milk unions are in cumulative profit.
✦ All the major milk processing plants are ISO certified.
✦ Supply of Vitamin A & D fortified milk to consumers.
✦ From 1st July 2015 supply of Sweetened Flavoured Skimmed Milk is being provided in 92,230 Anganwadis for 27.70 lakh
children & 85,933 primary schools for 45.85 lakh children for 3 days a week.
✦ During 2014-15 Indore Milk Union was awarded Bhamashah Award by the State Govt. to pay Rs. 5.47 Crores as Value
Added Tax in the category of State Industry.
✦ Digitisation of milk procurement infrastructure like DCSs, BMCs, Chilling Centres, milk routes etc. and milk route optimisation.
All the milk procurement routes were optimized and more than 1500 Km per day run was saved, amounting to a saving
of more than Rs. 65 lakhs per year. The project was awarded State e-Governance Excellence Award 2015-17 by Govt. of
Madhya Pradesh in the category of Innovative use of ICT.

22
✦ During 2017-18 Jabalpur Milk Union received NDDB Dairy Innovation Award in the category of Milk & Milk Product
Marketing.
✦ Implementation of Automatic Milk Collection System Software provided by National Dairy Development Board.

The major challenges are:

✦ Packet sale in the urban and semi urban sector is not up to the mark. Still people are more dependent on the local
vendors. They could not be educated to the advantages of using packed pasteurized milk. The presence of packed milk by
cooperative dairies in large rural areas is very low.
✦ The shelf life of the indigenous milk products is less, so that they cannot be made available in the larger areas.
✦ In adequate manufacturing facilities for Skimmed Milk Powder, UHT milk, Ice Cream etc.
✦ Shortage of skilled manpower.

The major opportunities are as under:

✦ Vast potential for marketing of milk and milk products in the State. Presently the milk procurement is only 6% of the total
marketable surplus similarly the packet milk sale is only 13% of the total liquid milk sale market
✦ There is good demand of dairy sweets like Peda, Milk Cake, Nariyal Barfi etc. during festival season. By increasing production
capacity this demand can be met.
✦ Gwalior milkshed area can be developed as main supplying dairy to the Mother Dairy, New Delhi.
As we all know, Dr. Verghese Kurien was a man of vision who ended up as an institutional builder. As per his vision, more than
7000 village level DCSs are operational, procuring milk from more than 2.5lakh rural milk producers and spreading the democratic
culture in the State. In the era of liberalisation and privatisation, the dairy cooperatives are one of the strongest cooperatives in
the State, it is all due to the strong system laid down by Dr. Kurien behind it.
We are committed to make dairy cooperatives as his dream institutions.
I congratulate VKCoE on this occasion, convey my gratitude and best wishes for all their future endeavours.

Dr. Aruna Gupta, IAS,

Managing Director,
MP State Cooperative Dairy Federation (MPCDF)

23
 Message from Managing Director
The Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited

The Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited is happy that the Celebration of
Birth Anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien is taking place at Verghese Kurien Centre of
Excellence (VKCoE), IRMA this year.
On the merger of Sikkim with the Indian Dominion in 1975 the then Governor of Sikkim
Shri B.B. Lal initiated the idea of forming a Co-operative Milk Union in Sikkim, probably
being encouraged with the success that had been achieved in the State of Gujarat.
Therefore, the matter was taken up with Dr. V. Kurien, the then Chairman of National
Dairy Development Board who also paid a visit to Sikkim in 1977 as a guest of the
State. After discussion with the State Government, Dr. Kurien agreed to implement
“Anand Pattern” Cooperative Societies in Sikkim. With the help of NDDB the Sikkim
Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited was formed in 1980 after being registered
under the Sikkim State Cooperative, Societies’ Act, 1978. Thus the Sikkim Milk Union
came into being during the Operation Flood II programme of the NDDB, and was
established through financial assistance by the erstwhile Indian Dairy Corporation (IDC)
and technical guidance of the implementing agency, the NDDB.
The Sikkim Milk Union passed through a very difficult period initially due to the difficult hilly terrain, poor road connectivity, low
yield milch cattle, lack of feed and fodder and several other inhibiting factors. However, due to technical assistance from the
NDDB and financial assistance from the Govt. of Sikkim and Govt. of India, the Sikkim Milk Union has become an economically
viable Unit since the last 10-12 years.
The Sikkim Milk Union produces Toned Milk, High Cream Milk, White Butter, Chhurpi, Paneer, Plain curd and Ice Cream which
is sold to the urban consumers within Sikkim as well as High Cream Milk to Army Units in East Sikkim and in North Bengal.
With the declaration of Sikkim as an Organic State in the year 2016 by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Sikkim Milk
Union is working towards achieving 100% Organic production in dairy sector also. Towards this objective, an Organic cattle feed
plant is being set up by the Government of Sikkim in South Sikkim District. All the Veterinary Officers of the Animal Husbandry
department and the Sikkim Milk Union were also trained in the Ethno-Veterinary Medicine practices to reduce the use of anti-
biotics in the treatment of cattle. With the final certification, Sikkim Milk Union is striving towards 100% organic production of milk
in the near future.
Sikkim Milk Union shall always remember and express gratitude to the support provided by NDDB and in particular Dr. Verghese
Kurien in setting up this Organisation in the state of Sikkim.

Ragul K., IAS

Managing Director
Sikkim Milk Union

24
 Message from Managing Director
The Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (Aavin)

I express my immense pleasure in recalling the contribution of the legendary Dr.

Verghese Kurien – the man who revolutionized “White” for turning India into the largest
milk producing nation in the world with a combination of socialist vision and a passion
for technology.
The ANAND model of Co-operative Dairying has been widely replicated in the country,
including Tamil Nadu, where it continues to strengthen and empower the farmers by
combining their energies and resources with the talent and commitment of professional
management, under the brand name “Aavin”.
The “Operation Flood” – the brainchild of Dr Kurien has paved way for sustained
efficiency of Dairy sector with technological development in various dairy and allied
fields - milk production, processing, packaging, manufacture of milk products etc., When
milk started flowing and became in plenty, milk converted into milk powder, and thus
ensured availability of milk for market network throughout the year irrespective of lean
or flush season in the Dairy Industry during the period.
Today India contributes approximately 19% of the global milk production, this in fact
become possible in the vision of Dr. Kurien, who has dedicated himself with selfless and with single minded approach of milk
producers welfare, and will go up further in the years to come.
The TCMPF Ltd., has witnessed tremendous growth in milk procurement since inception of Operation Flood in 1970. From a
meagre milk procurement of 4.33 LLPD in 1977 March 31, the milk procurement has touched 36 LLPD at present.
During Operation Flood-I period only 2335 active milk cooperative with 6,17,515 members functions in the state with the average
milk procurement 4.33 lakh litres per day only.
Now, a total no. of 12,585 registered MPCS encompassing 20.26 Lakh producer members function under 17 District unions. It
is envisioned to increase the handling capacity to 50 LLPD from the present 43 LLPD, to meet the anticipated milk procurement
by 2023.
To add one more feather to its cap, Aavin has successfully launched its products overseas viz., Singapore and Hong Kong and
proposes to expand further into international market. It would be an understatement to state that the Tamil Nadu Coop. sector
owes its phenomenal growth to the genius and innovative vision of Dr. Kurien.
Today milk is abundantly available and our nation’s milk production is expected to reach 164 million tonnes this year from the
nation’s milk production level of 17 million tonnes during 1965. The growth and success tell about the geniuses and innovative
vision of Dr.Verghese Kurien who has paved the way for our country to become largest milk producing country in the world.
In order to honour his 50 years devoted service to the Nation and to Farmer, milk producers celebrating the “Birth Anniversary the
25th November of the Great Milk Man Dr.Verghese Kurien as National Milk Day” is indeed a fitting tribute to the “Milkman of India”.
I deem it an honour to be a part of the great ‘White” family.

C. Kamaraj, IAS,
Managing Director,
The Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (Aavin)

25
 Message from Managing Director
Pradeshik Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited (PCDF), Uttar Pradesh

I pay my tribute to Dr. V. Kurien on the eve of 26th November.

Popularly known as Father of “Operation Flood” created history by making milk as

livelihood of rural as well as urban masses. It was his sheer effort which could make
possible India’s milk production to touch the level of 165.4 MMT. It also gives immense
pleasure to see 1,65,74,445 farmers covered through 1,85,903 village level cooperatives.

It was his vision which could make convenient for the rural masses to get acquainted
with computer by enforcing the system to be transparent. Not only has this milk been
accepted by big Indian business houses as business. Keeping in mind his contribution
towards dairy, one must feel satisfied by serving the rural poor masses.

Pradeshik Cooperative Dairy Federation, Lucknow is the apex body implementing

different Dairy Schemes in the state of Uttar Pradesh. PCDF at present in its restructuring
phase, is in process of establishing 10 new green field dairy plants at and refurbishing
4 old plants. Within a span of one year, PCDF will be will equipped with new plants,
technological interventions such as DPMCUs, BMCs, Modern Quality Labs etc. At present 3,05,000 rural members are covered
through 6,587 village level cooperative societies.

I wish very best to VKCoE.

Dr. Sudhir M Bobde, IAS

IAS Chairman-cum-Managing Director
Pradeshik Coopreative Dairy Federation Limited

26
 Message from Managing Director
Message from Managing Director, West Assam Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited (Purabi)

To me, a professional working in the cooperative dairy sector, Dr. Verghese Kurien is
the epitome of excellence. It is, therefore, most appropriate that IRMA, an Institution
he created and nurtured, has established the Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence.

As they say, your life is what you do and to us what we do is guided by the philosophy,
principles and standards set out by this great visionary. Thanks and kudos to IRMA that
hundreds of individuals like me are initiated into this way of thinking. Each day we draw
inspiration from Dr. Kurien’s work and way of thinking.

At this Milk Union, the apex milk Union of Assam, the fruits of cooperative dairying
was not fully realized in the initial years. Dairying as a commercial activity is now
gaining ground and the farmers look forward to adopt dairying as a tool for economic
development, wherein the cooperative model has been effective in increasing their
confidence. It is our endeavour to keep up to the expectations and find ways to
overcome all hurdles and challenges to make their dream come true.

The Cooperative Institutions have been evolving with time and the changing economic scenario. The readiness and adaptability
to the constant changes was also the mainstay of Dr. Kurien’s philosophy. In today’s world, therefore, the role of this Centre of
Excellence shall definitely be of great significance and help in all areas – be it operations, governance, policies, strategies – that
too at all levels of the cooperative sector.

Satya Brata Bose

Managing Director,
West Assam Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited (Purabi)

27
 Introduction to VKCoE
Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE) was started
in the year 2015 at IRMA with the support from Gujarat
Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). Its stated
objectives include the following:
a. Research: The primary purpose of the centre would
be to carry out research in Dairy and cooperative
sector including agriculture cooperatives and producer
organizations.
b. Consultancy: The Centre will also provide consultancy
services to cooperatives, producer organizations and
large dairy entrepreneurs.
c. Extension and Outreach: The research outputs
will be disseminated at various forums and through
publications. It will be ensured that the research findings
reach the target beneficiaries through workshops,
seminars and meetings with stakeholders. It will also
take up relevant training and capacity building work.
d. Policy contribution: The research carried out at the
centre will ultimately lead to contributions in Dairy
and Cooperative policies including those of agriculture
cooperatives.
Since its inception, the centre has embarked on a journey
with multidimensional diverse activities. These activities
include:
i) engagement of IRMA students to work on internship
projects under the guidance of VKCoE in dairy sector;
ii) case studies on Hasnabad Farmers Service Producer
Company Limited (HFSPC), Vasudhara Adivasi Dairy,
Dharani Farmers’ Cooperative Model;
iii) conduct of conference on Farmer Producer
Organizations;
iv) publication through participation in conferences and in
journals; and
v) publications in new papers with focus on dairy sector by
discussing contemporary issues faced by dairy sector
and drawing attention of policy makers. The centre
also facilitated guest lectures, and an international
seminar on “Cooperatives in Iran” with participation of
GCMMF, NDDB and NCDFI.
The centre aims to emerge as an independent think tank,
an entity of international nature engaged in quality research,
publication, and consulting while staying connected to the
various forms of sector organizations with prime focus on
cooperatives. VKCoE has greater emphasis in dairy sector
and also envisages traversing a road map leading critical
analysis and generation of knowledge on dairy sector in
India and Asia Pacific by effectively working at the grass
roots, advocacy and policy level. The centre also focuses on
studying other forms of cooperatives in international scenario
in general and India in particular to benchmark products,
processes, organizational life cycles, member affinity and
28
sustainability of business these members are in. The centre
strives to understand the effects of climate change and its
effects on sustainable development goals and contributions
of dairy sector organizations.
VKCoE is actively engaged in networking with various
academic and research organizations including CAB (RBI),
Pune, NDRI, Karnal, ICA-Asia Pacific, and SMC Dairy
Science College, Anand. It is also reaching out to other
national and international organizations for collaborations.
The centre is actively working on the preparation of
the “National Dairy Cooperative Database” to provide
researchers and academicians with support on their
research projects and come up with findings to help policy
makers, industry, organizations in dairy sector, and students
in effective learning.
The centre, as part of its strategy, plans to emerge as a
“Centre of Excellence” and as an independent entity with
national focus and international credentials. It thus focuses on
action research and funds researchers in conducting research
on contemporary issues and challenges while understanding
organizational life cycles, technology adoption, effects of
climate change, and sustainable business in dairy sector. It
also has laid emphasis on periodically conducting workshops,
conferences and seminars to share its independent views
based on case studies, research outcomes and interfaces
with various forms of sector organizations in the sector. It
also has plans to expand its activities to other sectors with
focus on cooperatives, producer companies, and Farmer
Producer Organizations (FPOs).
Projects & Activities Completed So Far
Case Studies Developed
❖ Case Title: Hasnabad Farmers Service Producer
Company Limited (HFSPC)
Author: Dr. Ajit Kanitkar
Abstract: A study was sponsored by the Centre to
understand challenges faced by the Hasnabad Farmers
Service Producer Company Limited (HFSPC). The study
narrates the way HSFPC had to work both on mobilizing
working capital as also being agile to the ever-dynamic
situation in the commodity markets. By encouraging and
motivating members to collaborate with HFSPC. It is
interesting to study the strategic interventions of HSFPC
with the support of Rang De, a non-profit organization which
offers low cost micro-credit to the underserved communities.
The farmers received great support MSP procurement and
financial assistance.
❖ Case Title: Vasudhara Adivasi Dairy: Leading the Second
White Revolution
Author: Shri Siddharth Dabhi and Prof. C Shambu
Prasad
Abstract: The Vasudhara cooperative has provided a unique
model for India’s second white Revolution to empower
Adivasi women. It is the only Indian cooperative that has
been recognized by the Asian Institute of Management,
Manila for its outstanding performance in eradicating poverty
and providing livelihoods to rural tribal women. Unlike most
other dairies in Gujarat, Vasudhara, has the largest number
of women-led cooperative societies, more tribal as members,
and has shown that dairying is indeed profitable even with
large share of milk from cows than buffalos. Moreover, the
success of Vasudhara dairy can’t be merely restricted to the
establishment of successful dairying in a tribal region; it is
an important case in lessons on tribal development, grass
root leadership and the need for a strong linkage between
professionals and grassroots leaders.
❖ Case Title: Dharani Farmers’ Cooperative Model the national level. Less noticed is the fact that high levels of
Author: Prof. Shambu Prasad and Ms. Jayanti Kumari
Abstract: This case study narrates the inspirational and
challenging journey of the Dharani Farmers’ Cooperative
in Anantapur district. The company faced the challenge of
sustaining livelihoods in arid regions with degraded soils and
fragile natural resources. The district of Anantapur is one of
the driest and most drought-prone districts in India. Around
90% of small and marginal farmers depend on agricultural
sector for their livelihood. Moreover, this district has seen
large-scale migration of youth and a high number of suicides
by farmers. Dharani today has 1800 farmers as shareholding
members and addresses a range of farmers’ marketing
challenges such as: (i) unavailability of credit and increased
indebtedness (ii) exploitative practices of private traders and
local mill owners (iii) increased exposure to market risk and
varying trade policies (iv) no access to a growing organic
food market. To deal with the above challenges, Dharani
and Timbuktu Collective had to constantly develop a series
of institutional and operational innovations in the way agri-
business was practiced in Anantapur.
Occasional Papers Published
Paper Title: The Logic of Farmer Enterprise
Author: Dr. Ajit Kanitkar measures. Higher rate of bovine fertility, improved breed and
Abstract: This essay presents an overview of recent
experiences with regard to promoting, managing, and
growing Farmer Enterprises (FEs) while highlighting the
need for promoters of FEs to plan their interventions
depending on the stage of growth of these enterprises. It
is based on a reflection and synthesis of ideas and insights
gained by the author from promoting and managing FEs
and during conversations with field-based promoters
pertinent to the challenges and opportunities of managing
FEs in twenty-first century India. The paper maps the
current ecosystem for FEs and then highlights missing links
in need of strengthening for the emergence of strong and
vibrant FEs. The paper suggests that rather than treating
29
an FE as a successful finished product, an openness to
see it as a work in progress offers opportunities for both
academicians and practitioners to collaborate towards co-
creating a live learning laboratory that will be beneficial to
primary producers.
Journal Articles Published
Article Title: Can the Big Learn from the Small?
Authors: Prof. Shambu Prasad C. and Pratyaya Jagannath
Abstract: The proud Punjabi farmer on his four-wheel
tractor is one of the more enduring images of agricultural
prosperity and the Green Revolution in India. The Indian
agricultural success story today is one of the aggregates at
buffer stock of food grains and claims of India emerging as
the largest producer of milk, beef, fruits, and vegetables, as
also growing sales of four-wheel tractors often mask regional
inequalities and paradoxes. The persistence of large-scale
farm distress, nutrition deficits, and climate stress often
raises uncomfortable questions about schemes that today
seek to ‘set right’ years of historical neglect by ‘Bring(ing) the
Green Revolution to Eastern India’ (BGREI). Paradoxically,
farmers in Punjab today are among the most indebted.
Article Title: Costing of artificial insemination in India: A
methodological approach.
Author: Prof. CMA Paresh J Bhatt
Abstract: Increase in milk production is hardly coping up
with an increase in demand of milk and milk products in
India with a current production of 122 million tonnes. The
Planning Commission of India estimates about a probable
demand of 155 million tonnes by end of 2016-17 which has
to be met with increased milk production. The conventional
system of bovine breeding has no potential of desired
increases in productivity. To meet with the knocking demand,
government, farmers, cooperative societies and other
stakeholders have to run the extra mile for an increase in
milk productivity and production with scientifically supported
high-quality bull and semen production will play a significant
role in this mega campaign. Artificial Insemination of bovine
is now established as an effective measure to achieve these
objectives. This technique is aimed at repeated attempts
of sensitizing reproductive system of female bovine when
they fail in conceiving through the natural course; it has
also proved helpful in producing an improved quality of
bovine offspring by selecting sperm of higher quality of bull
thereby improving the productivity of dairy cattle and milk
production. The paper focuses on the scope, pre-requisite,
and methodology which may be adopted for computation
of cost in a wide area to obviate difficulties in arriving at
reliable cost of the service in different sectors.
Conference Papers Published
❖ Paper Title: Producer and managerial leaders in
cooperatives. Shall the twain meet? climatic conditions, agrarian distress in the region of work
Authors: Prof. Madhavi Mehta and Ms. Neha Christie evolution of Dharani as a cooperative and its journey in
Abstract: Leadership has interested scholars and
practitioners alike. What makes it even more interesting
in the context of collectives is the twain leadership – the
producer leaders as well as the managerial leaders – and
how it works together given the diverse background of
the two. This study analyzed the leadership competencies
that the current positional leaders – both producers and
managerial - of collectives in the dairying sector in Gujarat
– expect from their successors. The paper is based on the
data collected from a total of 25 positional leaders (Nine
managerial leaders and 16 producer leaders) from six
dairy cooperatives. The data seems to indicate that the
expectations from managerial leaders have a predominant
focus on techno-managerial competences whereas those
expected from producer leaders predominantly focus on
values and interpersonal skills. Overall, the study confirms
that the leader’s orientation towards the producer farmers
and effective communication with a clear emphasis on active
listening is an important characteristic of a good leader.
❖ Paper Title: Collaborative leadership for gender
mainstreaming in dairy cooperatives: Social Innovation of
Vasudhara Dairy in Gujarat.    
Author: Ms. Neha Christie for tribals. It illustrates how newer dimensions such as
Abstract: Dairy cooperatives in Gujarat following the famous
Amul model have been one of the more successful examples
of cooperatives in India and the world. Although women have
been the backbone of much of the dairy activity there have
been few and isolated instances of women in leadership
positions in dairy cooperatives. Out of the 17 milk unions of
Gujarat, the number of women leaders at the higher levels
like Board of Directors and dairy cooperatives is limited. In
contrast, one of the unions, the Vasudhara milk union is a
unique example of successful cooperation of women. The
dairy has witnessed great success in mainstreaming gender
with 940 women’s milk cooperatives out of 1121 and 8 women
board members including the vice chairman out of 14 seats.
The gender sensitive, innovative and collaborative efforts for
empowering women and enhancing their participation have
brought economic growth in predominantly tribal region of
Valsad. This paper aims to examine the social innovations
that enabled gender mainstreaming in dairy cooperatives of
Vasudhara milk union.
❖ Paper Title: Social Innovations in Organic Foods in
Rainfed India: The case of Dharani FaM Coop Ltd. a joint concept note that had been circulated. An attempt
Authors: Prof. Shambu Prasad, C and Shri Sathish Kumar
Abstract: The Dharani Farming and Marketing (FaM)
Cooperative is not only involved in changing production
systems towards sustainability but also procures, processes
and sells the organic produce of its members sustainably
30
under the brand name Timbaktu Organic. This study
addresses four major questions. First, it explains the agro-
and the genesis of this initiative. Second, it captures the
a nutshell. Third, it tries to analyse the different social
innovations that Dharani brought-in at different levels of its
operations. Finally, the study suggests some broad ideas
on social innovations and cooperatives in the organic food
space based on learning from the Dharani case.
❖ Paper Title: Rethinking Cooperatives for Sustainable
Development: Insights from Vasudhara Dairy and Dharani
Organic Cooperatives
Author: Prof. Shambu Prasad C and Ms. Jayanti Kumari
Abstract: This paper analyses an overview of cooperatives
and sustainable development goals and seeks to point
to some missing dimensions in the current discourse on
sustainability and cooperatives. In addition, the paper also
looks at two cases of how some of the SDG goals like the
promotion of sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic
growth for poor and marginalized communities and ending
poverty and hunger through appropriate use of natural
resources is achieved. First, the paper analyzes in detail
how the Vasudhara dairy or Valsad dairy cooperative in
Gujarat has been able to establish itself as a leader in the
state in terms of gender inclusion and dairy as a livelihood
gender parity and social inclusion in cooperatives can be
achieved and the importance of grassroots leadership and
the important collaboration between grassroots leaders and
professional management.
Workshops Conducted
Workshop Report Title: National Conference on Farmer
Producer Organizations
Authors: Prof. Shambu Prasad and Ms. Neha Christie
Abstract: This report is an outcome of the deliberations
of over 50 participants as part of the two-day conference
on “Framing Futures: National Conference on Framer
Producer Organizations” hosted by the Institute of Rural
Management Anand (IRMA) Anand through Verghese
Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCOE), in collaboration with
Samaj Pragati Sahayog (SPS) and Samuha, on February 2
and 3, 2017. The conference brought together participants
comprising academicians, researchers and representatives
from FPOs, promoting organizations and donors based on
was made to enable participation from both the FPO and
promoting organizations.
Media Fellowship Articles Published
As a part of this series of media articles published, dairy
cooperatives have been researched and outcomes shared.
 Sl. Date of
Article Title Media
No. Publication
1 Milk procurement by Banaskantha Dairy picks up after floods 09-Aug-17 Financial Express
Two major cooperatives ask government to keep dairy sector outside FTA ne-
2 04-Mar-17 Financial Express
gotiations purview.
Hit by drought, disparity Karnataka Co-op Milk Producers Federation to see
3 01-Mar-17 Financial Express
moderate growth in procurement
NABARD’s Rs 8k-cr infrastructure development fund to boost financing of milk
4 03-Feb-17 Financial Express
processing capacities
India may be No.1 milk producer in world, but dairy farmers still outside formal
5 04-Jan-17 Financial Express
credit system.
Demonetisation gives digital payments boost to dairy farmers; over 1 mn ac-
6 31-Dec-16 Financial Express
counts opened.
7 After Amul turns cashless, NDDB orders affiliates to turn to online payments. 06-Dec-16 Financial Express
8 Demonetisation: Boost for Amul’s cashless drive. 21-Nov-16 Financial Express
9 Milk prices set to rise? Country facing acute shortage of fodder.  12-Nov-16 Financial Express
10 Banas Dairy a big success story; honcho Bipin Patel explains how it did it. 27-Sep-16 Financial Express
11 How arid Banaskantha keeps white revolution going.  26-Sep-16 Financial Express
12 Rural startups using modern communication tools get booster shot; here’s how.  05-Sep-16 Financial Express
13 Amul, 25 others use e-platform to sell dairy items.  29-Aug-16 Financial Express
14 Milk revolution in East India? Here’s what Amul is up to.  03-Jul-16 Financial Express

Ongoing Research Projects ❖ Project Title: A Study of Democratic Governance

❖ Project Title: Leadership in Cooperatives: Modeling
Behavioral Competencies
Researcher Team: Prof. Madhavi Mehta and Ms. Neha
Christie Abstract: In this project, the study will endeavour to
Abstract: This project deals with the leadership
competencies aspects of the dairy cooperative sector. As
part of the project different milk union manager leaders, milk
producers leaders were selected among the six milk unions
of Gujarat state. The indepth interviews were taken through
proper research method. The final report of this project and
a working paper are in process.
❖ Project Title: Social network analysis of Patronage of
dairy cooperative members in Gujarat
Researcher Team: Prof. Shyam Singh sampling method will be used to collect the samples.
Abstract: The project tries to bring attention on the whole
aspect of information sharing and social network of dairy
cooperative societies. It is very interesting as the project
introduces new perspectives to understand the way e
social status and social network of the district cooperative
societies members help information dissemination and solve
milk-related issues. This study also throws light on the way
members use their bargaining power to realize collective
and individual benefits.
Structure, Members Selection and the scope for Leadership
in Primary Milk Cooperative Societies of Gujarat state
Researcher team: Prof. Indranil De, and Ms. Neha Christie
understand the governance system at the Dairy Cooperative
Societies (DCS) level, the process of members’ selection
for the committee at DCS level, the effect of governance
and members’ selection process on the efficiency (social
and economic performance) of the primary milk society,
the effectiveness of cooperatives in value generation for
primary members and the amount of transparency the
primary member perceive on their transaction and finally
the evolution and role of local leadership in meeting the
emerging challenges at DCS level. Stratified random
❖ Project Title: Development of an Optimization Model
to Obtain Sustainable Milk Collection Operations for a Co-
operative
Researcher team: Prof. Shivshanker Singh Patel, Prof.
Harekrishna Misra, Prof. S. R Asokan, Shri Rajeev Pandey
Abstract: In this research project, the transportation system
for the Kaira Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited
(KCMPUL) will be studied to assess problems with regard

31
to potential dispatch center locations, milk collection centers
at given locations and a heterogeneous fleet of vehicles.
An algorithm will be suggested for solving the optimization
problem and compared with the optimal solution for various
instances of the problem. The proposed logistics of milk
collection system will result in a reduction in the cost of
transportation, traveling path and fuel consumption. The
effects of the direct shipment on the traffic conditions and
the environment will also be studied under this project.
Further, the number of trucks on road can be reduced
thus resulting in an improvement in traffic conditions. The
effect of this logistics on the reduction of CO2 will also be
addressed. This type of logistics management can be seen
from the viewpoint of sustainable milk operational policy.
Proposed Research Projects
❖ Title: A Comparative Analysis of Financial Performance
of Dairy Cooperatives in the state of Gujarat.
Researcher Team: Prof. CA Asmita Vyas, Dr. Rupali
Ambadkar
Abstract: Dairy Cooperatives in Gujarat have played a very
significant role in improving the economic and social standing
of farmers in Gujarat and rural population in general. This
study will evaluate the financial performance of select
dairy cooperatives in Gujarat. It also aims to identify the
major factors influencing the financial performance, make
a comparative analysis of the financial performance of
dairy cooperatives in Gujarat and understand their relative
strength and challenges. Ratio analysis has been selected
as a tool to evaluate financial performance. Liquidity ratios,
capital structure ratios, activity ratios and profitability ratios
would be calculated to assess the financial performance of
dairy cooperatives.
❖ Title: Assessment of autonomy of Dairy Cooperatives
and Disbursement of Surplus
Researcher team: Prof. CA Asmita Vyas
Abstract: Cooperatives have been instrumental in the
upliftment of standard of living of rural people and increasing
rural employment, especially through dairy cooperatives.
Autonomy and member participation are essential
characteristics of cooperatives. This research project will
assess the prevailing autonomy in the current scenario and
its impact on dairy cooperatives. The study will analyze
gaps in autonomy for improvement of performance and find
out satisfaction level of stakeholders of dairy cooperatives
regarding disbursement of surplus in different areas
like reserve fund, education fund, asset fund and finally
suggest an effective way of disbursement of surplus. Semi-
structured interviews with the core staff and members, the
Position Description Questionnaire (PDQ) and Focus Group
Discussions (FGD) will be key tools for data collection.
❖ Title: Awareness of Dairy Farming among Consumers of
Milk & Milk Products in Gujarat
32
Researcher Team: Prof. CA Asmita Vyas, Dr. Rupali
Ambadkar
Abstract: This project will assess the level of awareness
regarding dairy farming among milk and milk product
consumers in Gujarat and the need for consumer
education based on awareness levels to promote conscious
consumption. to the project will assess the level of awareness
among stratified consumers e.g. urban area, rural areas,
gender, and age, analyze the gaps in awareness regarding
dairy industry practices, governance of the milk industry
and suggest the scope of improvement in awareness levels
to promote conscious consumption and improve level of
understanding regarding the economics of the milk industry.
❖ Title: Impact of Narmada Dam on Dairy Farmers of
Gujarat and specially Saurashtra region
Researcher team: Prof. CA Asmita Vyas, Dr. Rupali
Ambadkar
Abstract: This project will study the direct and indirect
benefits of canal irrigation including savings in the cost of
energy used to pump out groundwater and its contribution
in increasing income from farming and dairy. Further, it will
also study about the change in the pattern of crop production
after getting water from Narmada Dam and whether people
who had left their homes in search of livelihood due to
crop failures earlier are returning home now due to better
irrigation facilities. The study will also check the incremental
agricultural produce, impact on demand for agricultural labour,
whether there has been an increase in wage rates of labour
or appreciation of the land value and the overall standard
of living of the population in the area. This project will also
study the pattern of distribution of water from Narmada Dam
in Gujarat and advantages and disadvantages of Narmada
Dam project on dairy farmers, especially in the Saurashtra
region. Semi-structured interviews, Position Description
Questionnaire (PDQ) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
will be the key tools for data collection.
❖ Title: Balancing Economic and Social Value:
Transformation role of Women-dominant CBOs
Researcher Team: Prof. S. Bhavani Shankar and Prof.
Vinaysingh Chawan
Abstract: The research project envisages to understand
the functioning of Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
solely established for the women dairy producers. It tries to
capture various facets of value transitions between producers
and consumers. The project is interested in uncovering the
trade-offs and challenges associated with the management
of CBOs. It aims to address four major research questions.
First, how are the selection of partners, choice of processes
and prioritization between economic and social value guided
by the market and social logics in CBOs? Second, how is
value created, delivered, captured and distributed through
the institutional mechanisms of a CBO? Third, what tensions
and dilemmas exist in women dominant CBOs managing
market and social logics? Finally, how are power equations
among women members regulated through governance
mechanisms in CBOs?
❖ Title: Assessment of Impact of GST on Sustainability of
Dairy Cooperatives in India
Researcher Team: Prof. CMA Paresh J. Bhatt
Abstract: Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect
tax levied in India on the supply of goods and services.
The objective of this study is to know about the impact of
the replacement of multiple taxes on import, production,
sales, services, and entry by GST on the dairy industry
in the cooperative sector. The research will be conducted
to study GST Act with its applicability on various items/
products, transactions of import, production, sales,
consignment, transfer in the States, Inter-States, import,
applicability on dairy products with rates on all industry in
common, provisions of GST applicable on dairy products
with rates on this industry in cooperative sector in specific,
a comparative study of impact of taxes pre and post GST
on dairy cooperatives and finally analyze the outcomes
of above study with respect to sustainability of the dairy
cooperative sector in India.
❖ Title: Assessment of Performance of Dairy Cooperatives
in the state of Gujarat for Sustainability
Researcher Team: Prof. CMA Paresh J. Bhatt
Abstract: This project envisages to assess the performance
of dairy cooperatives and also allied industries including cattle
feed-meal and packing at different levels from the angle of
an industry practitioner and researcher. The objective of
this research study is to assess the performance of dairy
cooperative societies, dairy processing plants (unions),
cattle-feed plants plant, packing material producing plants
in the sector, the impact of Federation as a profit centre
and investment centre on various dairy cooperatives,
the assessment of performance of all above units while
comparing with set benchmarks/industry norms/norms
followed by dairy industries operating in private sector to
do gap analysis/reverse gap analysis and assessment
of performance of all above units with an objective of
making them earn optimum profits and compete well in
tough situations. The research approach will include the
collection of primary data at different levels i.e. GCMMF,
Milk Processing Plant, Cattle-feed processing plant, Dairy
Cooperative Societies, Dairy farmers.
❖ Title: Impact of Amendments in Cooperative Acts in
Governance of Dairy Cooperatives
Researcher Team: Prof. CMA Paresh J. Bhatt
Abstract:
Amendments in State and Central Cooperative Societies
Acts would have had their impacts on governance and
wellbeing of dairy cooperative societies. The objective of this
research work is to know about the reasons behind and the
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results of such amendments, to assess the effectiveness of
the changes in law, to measure the efficiency of operations
and if found beneficial to the community, then to come
up with a policy document for a proposed amendment in
other areas of such Acts. In this project the research study
will be conducted about State Cooperative Act (Gujarat
State), Central Cooperative Act, starring the sections which
have been amended, amendments provided by Gujarat
State Government and Central Government to capture the
objectives behind the amendments, present governance of
Dairy Cooperatives (Dairy Cooperative Societies in villages
of different districts and a few dairy processing plants under
GCMMF in Gujarat State) and capturing changes through
this study of the amendments in Cooperative Laws.
❖ Title: Strategic Orientation, Marketing Capabilities and
its Influence on Performance of Cooperative Dairies in India
Researcher team: Prof. Pratik Modi
Abstract: This study will address two major questions.
First, whether the strategic orientations can explain the
differential market performance of dairy unions? Second,
what role do capabilities play in supporting the market
performance? Data collected from this study will help the
unions to understand how their organizational orientation is
either hampering or supporting their market performance. It
will provide them with valuable inputs about the strategic
change required in their organizations. The dataset will be
analyzed using econometric and psychometric techniques to
meet the research objectives.
❖ Title: Environmental Sustainability of Dairying in India in
the 21st Century
Researcher Team: Prof. Pramod K Singh, Surendra K
Singh, Guenther Fischer, Harrij van Velthuizen, and Prof.
Harekrishna Misra
Abstract: This project will generate a range of scenarios
for the spatial and temporal variability of climatic parameters
in order to estimate the future productivity of fodder crops
and production gaps of milk due to climate change in India,
using the Agro-Ecological Zonation (AEZ) methodology.
The AEZ methodology is a GIS-based modelling
framework that combines land evaluation methods with
management circumstances. This project will also assess
the manifestation of climate change on the dairy animals in
India and its socio-economic impacts on rural communities,
using the fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) methodology, will
help to understand climatic changes and socio-economic
determinants. The study also attempts to identify and evaluate
the effectiveness of existing adaptations, in the context of
dairy development, against climate change using FCM-based
simulations in order to develop pathways for climate resilient
dairy development in India. Strategic knowledge on impacts,
vulnerabilities, and adaptations (IVAs) will be generated as a
result of climate change and socio-economic determinants.
Subsequently, extended storylines of shared socio-economic
pathways (SSPs) will be constructed for India, based on
these storylines; several pathways for climate resilient dairy
development will be suggested.
❖ Title: Exploratory Study of Hybrid Organizations: Using
Dairy Cooperatives in India
Researcher Team: Dr. Rakesh Arrawatia, Dr. Sanchayan
Nath,
Abstract: Hybrid organization combines characteristics from
both public as well as private organizations. This research
will be conducted to understand corporate sustainability
issues associated with hybrid organizations by drawing on
primary and secondary data collected on dairy cooperatives
in India. Hybrid organizations often try to maximize both
profitabilities as well as other societal goals such as the
sustainable use of the resource base from which they
draw their profits. The hypothesis with regard to this is that
dairy cooperatives aim to use their natural resource base
as sustainably as possible. For testing this hypothesis, the
study would look at secondary numbers of dairy cooperative
behavior over time.
❖ Title: Measuring Sustainability of Dairy Cooperative
Societies in Gujarat
Researcher team: Prof. Rakesh Arrawatia, Prof. Shyam
Singh, Prof. Harekrishna Misra
Abstract: Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) in Gujarat
have played an important role in the success of the dairy
movement in the state. In this project, physical, financial
membership and governance parameters will be developed
for a sustainable dairy cooperative society. By using these
parameters, the physical and financial status of DCSs will
be assessed, at various stages of maturity with a view of
their long-term sustainability and categorization into low,
medium and high performer DCS. Documentation of the
reasons will be obtained using a case study approach for
the success and failure of DCS. Identification of financial,
governance, and membership participation indicators will
be carried out using a well-known qualitative method such
as Delphi and focused group discussions. Performance
evaluation of DCSs based on these parameters will be
conducted using the non-parametric technique called Data
Envelopment Analysis.
❖ Title: Comparative Performance Evaluation of Milk
Unions in Gujarat: a functional approach
Researcher team: Prof. Rakesh Arrawatia, Prof. H.K.
Mishra, Prof. Satyendra Pandey, Anuj Vijay Bhatia
Abstract: This study will develop functional parameters for
performance evaluation of milk unions. The performance of
the milk unions will be benchmarked by using these functional
parameters. Further, a Matrix of Optimal Performance
Benchmark will also be developed for Milk Unions to
maximize members’ returns. Identification of performance
indicators will be carried out using qualitative methods
such as the Delphi method, Focus Group Discussions, and
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interviews with experts. The performance of Milk Unions
will be evaluated using two methods: Data Envelopment
Analysis and Stochastic Frontier Analysis.
❖ Title: Building a Cohesive Society through Dairying: A
Social Network Analysis
Researcher team: Prof. Shyam Singh
Abstract: The Anand pattern of building village-level dairy
cooperative societies is considered as a successful model and
in recent times, an alternative structure of dairy cooperatives
has also emerged, known as producer companies. In this
project, the study will give a better understanding of the
role of dairy cooperatives as well as producers companies
in building a cohesive society, which goes beyond producing
economic outcomes and to understand the role of these
two different dairy structures in promoting social inclusion,
creating social capital and accelerating social mobility. The
social network analysis methodology will be adopted for the
investigation throughout the project and quantitative data
will be collected through a network survey using a semi-
structured interview schedule.
❖ Title: Social Network Analysis of Patronage of Dairy
Cooperatives Members in Gujarat, India
Researcher team: Dr. Shyam Singh
Abstract: The project aims to better understand patronage
in dairy cooperatives by examining relationships among
the Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs) members as well
as between governing body and the DCS members. This
study will address three broad questions. First, does the
social status and social network of DCS members help
information dissemination in the DCS? Second, how are
DCS members able to solve the milk related issues?
Finally, how do members use their bargaining power to
realize collective and individual benefits? A network survey
will be used to collect the data from the members of the
governing body as well as DCS members. Apart from the
survey, structured interviews with governing body members
and semi-structured interviews with DCS members will be
organized.
❖ Title: Sustainability and Collaborative Capability as Drivers
of Competitive Advantage among Dairy Cooperatives in India
Researcher Team: Prof. Sridhar Vishwanath and Prof.
Pratik Modi
Abstract: The objective of the study is to examine
the sustainability and collaborative capability and their
relationships with financial performance among dairy
cooperatives in India. In addition, the study also evaluates
a few questions. First, what are the sustainability practices
being followed by dairy cooperatives? Second, what role
do sustainability practices have in achieving organizational
commitment, reputation and customer satisfaction? Finally,
the study aims to evaluate the relationship between
sustainability practices and firm performance. This study
will use primary data sources especially surveys of the
management of cooperatives as the key respondents to
evaluate the above questions.
❖ Title: Understanding Effects of Technology Mediation in
Dairy Sector: Learning from Various Organizational Forms
Researcher Team: Prof. Harekrishna Misra, Prof. Madhavi
Mehta, and Prof. S R Asokan
Abstract: This study aims to understand the supply chain
that various forms of organizations in the state of Gujarat
have in the dairy sector (in this case dairy cooperative
and producer company), to understand the trends in
technology management (and especially ICT) approaches
that these organizations have adopted and the effects
thereof, to ascertain systems and technology adoption
strategies and plans in the organizations and their impacts
(focus on systems and technologies alignment), to study
the technology life cycles (acquisition, maintenance and
disposal) for the processes, its effects and impacts on
organizational performance, understand the technology
adoption behaviour (push and pull strategies if any) of
stakeholders in the supply chain, understand the strategies
for adoption of green technology to protect environment
and finally to understand the factors that support and inhibit
the members and the organizations; and the actors in the
supply chain to adopt technologies.
❖ Title: Study of Value Chain in Dairy Cooperative Sector
Organizations and its impact on Organizational Effectiveness
Researcher Team: Prof. Madhavi Mehta, Prof. S R Asokan,
and Prof. Harekrishna Misra
Abstract: The study on value chains linking to its contributions
to organizational effectiveness and performance in dairy
cooperatives is very important since these are owned and
managed by dairy farmer entrepreneurs. This project work
will present the unexplored determinants to the organizational
effectiveness in dairy cooperatives by relating to the value
chain management-based perspectives. In this project the
study will be carried out to understand the supply chain of
the dairy cooperative sector, to ascertain effectiveness of
the organizations nurtured through cooperative structure in
dairy sector, to understand what practices are pursued for
effective governance, and establishing operating systems
and maintaining the value chain, and to ascertain the
effectiveness of the form of organization by relating to the
value chain perspective.
❖ Title: Welfare Effects of Dairy Cooperative Societies on
Rural Households: Experimental Evidence from India
Researcher Team: Dr. Vivek Pandey
Abstract: This project aims to address three major
research questions. First, effects of Dairy Cooperative
Societies (DCS) on dairy household’s welfare measured
in terms of consumption, income, saving, investment, and
decisions associated with health and education. Second,
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to what extent the DCS impact upliftment of women’s
socio-economic status of dairy households. Finally, does
DCS provide insurance type effects to rural marginalized
households (SC/ST households) by improving their socio-
economic status? This study will employ experimental and
quasi-experimental econometric methods to estimate the
impact of DCS on several dimensions of dairy household’s
welfare using household experiments.
❖ Title: Leveraging Technology and Input Services for
Member Commitment in Dairy Cooperatives
Researcher team: Dr. Saswata Narayan Biswas, Ms. Ruby
Balchandani
Abstract: This study aims to capture the relationship
between technological and other inputs received by the
members, socio-psychological variables, demographic
variables, the price received by farmers, and members’
commitment to the dairy cooperatives. The study will be
conducted using both the dairy society level data and the
household level data collected from the member farmers.
Moreover, the study will collect data on membership, inputs
provided, technical support provided, price and bonus paid
to farmers, financial statements to find operational costs at
society level. Demographic details of the household such as
the number of members in the household, income, education
will also be collected at the household level. Additionally,
the members will be asked about different inputs and other
services that they receive from the cooperative such as price
paid by the society, timelines in making payments, veterinary
services provided by the union, cattle feed provided by the
union, satisfaction with the present milk payment procedure.
❖ Title: Dairy Sector – Comparative Study of a Cluster and
a Cooperative
Researcher Team: Dr. Tamal Sarkar, Prof. H K Mishra, Ms.
Suchismita Nayak, Shri Subhradeep Das
Abstract: This study will do a comparative assessment of
the factors in the value chain, their rates of return and their
roles in the business models of a Dairy Cluster of Badashai
Block District Mayurbhanj, Odisha. Additionally, the study will
also analyse the social aspects of such business models in
terms of impact on health and education. For the analysis
purpose, the study will collect both secondary and primary
data and compute value chain based on a sample survey.
Moreover, impacts on social issues like health, education,
and migration will also be assembled based on primary level
data.
 A Dedication to Dr. Kurien
by CMA Prof. Paresh J. Bhatt – Professor, IRMA and Member, Advisory Committee, VKCoE

‘§¼Ý¢ ±¢Î¢ ÜUÚï Îï’ “Make a Promise”*

¼ê Ýãèæ ¼¢ï ç…G‹Îx¢è }¢ïæ Who will fill the void

¥¢ñÚ v²¢ Úã …¢»x¢¢, Now that you have gone?
ç…„Ýï ¼éÛ¢ÜU¢ï çÎH „ï ™¢ã¢ Your loved ones cannot help but ask:
v²¢ ±¢ï ²ï „ã Т»x¢¢ J How will the void be borne?

çÜU¼Ýï Ï¢Ú„¢ïæ ¼ïÚè ™¢ã¼ So many years have rolled by

ÜUï Ý…G¢Úï Îï¶ï ãñæ, Basking in adoring veneration
v²¢ ±¢ï ™¢ã¼ ÜU¢ „}¢æÎÚ Will that sea of ardour now
}¢éz¼ }¢ïæ Ï¢ã …¢»x¢¢ J Wash up wasted, sans recognition?

»ÜU ÎèÐÜU „ï ²ã¢¡ ÐÚ The brilliant lamp that you were

ÎèÐ}¢¢H¢ Ϣݢ x¢§ü, Who ignited a million others
¥¢¡ç{²¢ïæ ÜUè Ú¢ã }¢ïæ In the eye of the storm, however,
v²¢ ±¢ï ÎèÐ …H Т»x¢¢ J Who else could have that power?

§„ …㢡 Ýï Îﶢ ãñ This world has been able to witness

w±¢Ï¢ ãÜUèÜU¼ }¢ïæ Ï¢ÎH¼ï, Dreams turning into tangible substance
„êÝè ¥¢¡¶¢ïæ }¢ïæ ÜU㢡 What dream will these eyes hold;
ÜU¢ï§ü w±¢Ï¢ ¥Ï¢ ÐH Т»x¢¢ J Forlorn for want of sustenance?

§¼Ý¢ ±¢Î¢ ÜUÚÎï ±x¢èü„ Make a promise oh Verghese!

§„ {Ú¢ ÜUï Ðê¼ „ï, To this son of the earth
»ÜU ¥±„Ú ç}¢H x¢²¢ ¼¢ï That it is here you will return
H¢ñÅÜUÚ çÈUÚ ¥¢»x¢¢ J Unfailingly, in your next birth.

– Prof. CMA Paresh Bhatt *Translated to English by Ms. Indrani Talukdar

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 Memories of Dr. Verghese Kurien: a Photo Gallery

“Transplant the spirit of Anand all over the country”, Late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to Dr. V. Kurien”

Farmer participation, the essence of Anand Pattern, enthused all Prime Ministers. Pandit Nehru and Smt. Indira Gandhi visiting the Amul Dairy Plant.

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 Dr. V. Kurien with Smt. Indira Gandhi at the First Convocation

Dr. V. Kurien with Shri Rajiv Gandhi at the Fifth Convocation

Dr. V. Kurien with Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the 19th Convocation Dr. V. Kurien with Mrs Mieco Nishimizu at the 20th Convocation

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 Dr. V. Kurien with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam at the 21st Convocation

Dr. V. Kurien receiving Padma Vibhushan from President,

K.R. Narayanan in 1999.

Dr. V. Kurien with Shri Sam Pitroda at the 22nd Convocation Dr. V. Kurien with Mrs. Molly Kurien

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Institute of Rural Management Anand
Post Box No. 60, Anand 388 001. Gujarat, India
Contact: 02692-260391, 260181 • Fax: 02692-260188 • Web.: www.irma.ac.in

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