World Milk Day Celebration: Seminar Held and Winners of Essay Competition Awarded

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 01^st June:- Punjab Dairy Development Board in collaboration with Indian Dairy Association (North Zone) Punjab Chapter and Milkfed Punjab celebrated World Milk Day with a great fervor and enthusiasm at Livestock Complex, Sector 68, Mohali. The celebration was a multifaceted activity. On this occasion a seminar on the topic of "Milk for Health and Prosperity" was organized. The District level winners of the essay competition conducted by the Board on the same topic throughout the Senior Secondary schools of the State were awarded cash prizes. It was indeed a grand function in which Manjit Singh Brar, Managing Director, Milkfed Punjab was the Chief Guest. Indian Dairy Association North Zone was represented by its Vice Chairman Dr. G.R. Patil and Dr. R.K. Malik, Executive Editor, Indian Journal of Dairy Science.

Delivering his key note address M.S. Brar referred to the historical background of the state where milk production and consumption has always been a way of life. That's why, he said, Punjab was producing 8% of country's total milk with only 2% of milch animals. He emphasized upon the students to consume more milk and milk products as it was very important for their growth and fitness required to meet the challenges of highly competitive world. Dispelling the myths about the harms of milk fat, he referred to the recent issue of Time Magazine wherein an American research has stressed the need to consume more butter for better health. Talking about the product range offered by Milkfed he told that they were trying to understand the needs of the people and produce products to meet those needs. He counted a number of new milk products already introduced and in the pipeline. He also told that Milkfed has introduced small packs of lassi and milk with a large variety of flavors at very competitive prices. He told the students that Dairying offers large scale career options and emphasized upon them to take up dairy science courses whole heartedly so that good talent is available in this field for employment. He shared his experience that milkfed has been continuously going for campus recruitment but have not been getting adequate talent. He told that such recruitments will continue every year not only by milkfed but by other players also which is a healthy sign for future dairy scientists/technocrats.

Dr. G.R. Patil,Vice Chairman Indian Dairy Association North Zone spoke about the importance of World Milk Day and he congratulated Punjab Chapter of Indian Dairy Association for having organized this function. He appreciated the efforts as this type of activity goes a long way in developing dairy sector.  He told that involving young students on such occasion fulfils a variety of purposes. On one side, awareness level of students increases and they get motivated to consume more milk and to take up dairy science courses. He wished that such programmes should be continued more vigorously.

Inderjit Singh, Director Dairy Punjab and Chairman, Indian Dairy Association (NZ) Punjab Chapter extended warm welcome to the chief guest, dignitaries, Technical speakers, students, their parents and teachers, Departmental functionaries and the members of the press and media. He explained the background of the function, history of the World Milk Day and the purpose of this activity. He made it clear that students are the future of the society and their physical and mental health is of prime importance. Leaving the minute nitty-gritty  of nutritional goodness of milk to the technical speakers, he emphasized upon the students to consume more milk and milk products as it was essential for their growing mind and body. He told that essay competition and prize distribution function has become a regular feature for last 4-5 years. From last year, Milkfed Punjab has been sponsoring the event. He appreciated the cooperation extended by Milkfed Punjab and conveyed his gratitude to the Managing Director.

Dr. Nitika Goyal, Assistant Professor, College of Dairy Science and Technology, GADVASU, Ludhiana made a detailed and illustrative presentation explaining the constituents of milk and the utility of each of them for the human health. Dr. P.K. Singh, Assistant Professor, College of Dairy Science and Technology, GADVASU, Ludhiana presented a detailed account of quality of milk, identification of natural milk and adulterated milk.

Dr. Inderpreet Kolar, Assistant Professor, College of Dairy Science and Technology, GADVASU, Ludhiana made a very lively presentation on the career options available in dairying.