Doodh Doodh Doodh,Doodh hai wonderful pee sakte hai Roz glassful!
DR AMEETA SALARIA
Milk has been known as nature’s most complete food for decades, to the current 6 billion people in the world. Milk offers an evolutionary advantage due to its hydration and rich nutritional content. Today, dairy milk and dairy product consumption are promoted in public health policies worldwide and are considered to play a crucial role in human nutrition. This natural wonder food is a powerhouse of nutrition and supports the livelihood of about one billion people globally.
On 1st June every year world gears up to celebrate Dairy Day Globally. The event showcases the dairy’s vital role in global food systems, providing economic, nutritional, and social benefits to a large proportion of the world’s population.
The calendar date of 1st June carries global nutritional significance and coincides distinctively with the onset of summer annually, this observance underlines milk’s importance as an indispensable food source worldwide. The unique timing provides an opportune moment to spread awareness regarding dairy’s role in food security while celebrating associated industries. On this day nutritional experts and farmers unite internationally on this particular date, resonating clearly – milk matters for global health.
World Milk Day Celebration 2024
History:
World Milk Day was introduced in 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to recognize the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector. Each year since, the benefits of milk and dairy products have been actively promoted globally, supporting livelihoods.
This Day provides an opportunity to focus on milk and to publicize activities connected with milk and the milk industry. The fact that many countries choose to do this on the same day lends additional importance to individual national celebrations and shows that milk is a global food. June 01 was chosen for World Milk Day because several countries were already celebrating a national milk day on or around this time. Milk Day celebration offers a perfect opportunity to spread the message about adding milk to your daily diet to make it balanced.
Theme:
Each year, World Milk Day adopts a specific theme to focus on various aspects of the dairy industry. Activities range from educational campaigns about the benefits of milk to dairy-related events and promotions. These efforts aim to engage consumers, farmers, and policymakers in discussions about sustainable dairy practices, animal welfare, and the role of dairy in combating malnutrition.
Over the years, the celebration of World Milk Day has incorporated different themes to address new-age issues and to draw attention to certain aspects of milk. The previous ones include food security, climate change, nutrition and sustainable development, and children’s nutritional needs.
The year 2024 Milk Day is celebrated with the theme of the vital role dairy plays in delivering quality nutrition to nourish the world. Dairy is an accessible, affordable, and nutrient-dense food, and an essential part of balanced diets across the world. This year’s theme will revolve around the value that the dairy sector holds in providing the quality nutrition that is required to feed our planet. Dairy is somewhat inexpensive, wholesome and inarguably the most consumed food globally.
Objective of the program
n To recognize the importance of milk as global food with its magical nutritional benefits
n Focus on livelihood potential across the globen Communicating the impacts of dairy industry on the environment and ways to reduce its environmental footprints.
Milk a Wonder food
Milk provides excellent nutrition forhumans of all ages. It provides body-building, bone-forming minerals, energy-giving lactose, andmilk fat, health-giving & protecting vitamins, Brain development & immunity boost-up.Milk protects and repairs osteoporosis & dental caries,helps to keep our skin supple, soft, and glowing,relieves stress, and ensures sound sleep, milk is the only source of casein and lactose(unique nutrients).Protection against different fatal diseases.Consequences of avoiding milk are malnourishment,incomplete development of the brain,stress and memory loss,osteoporosis and osteo-malacia, cavity and dental caries, and poor immunity.There are several ways milk can help your body calcium milk to maintain strong bones and teeth. milk proteins build and maintain lean muscle,and help maintain ahealthy immune system. Vitamin D helps build &maintain strong bones and teeth. Regular intake of dairy keeps a healthy immune system. Phosphorus helps build & maintain strong bones and teeth and supports tissue growth. Vitamin A helps keep skin & eyes healthy: and helps promote growth & maintain &a healthy immune system. Riboflavin helps your body use carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for fuel. Vitamin B12 helps maintain healthy immune, blood & nervous function and supports normal energy metabolism. Pantothenic acid helps your body use carbohydrates, fats, and protein for fuel.Niacin is used in energy metabolism in the body. Zinc helps maintain healthy skin.Selenium helps maintain a healthy immune system, helps regulate metabolism& helps protect healthy cells from damage. Iodine necessary for proper bone & brain development during pregnancy& infancy: linked to cognitive function in childhood. potassium helps maintain a healthy blood pressure & supports heart health. It helps regulate body fluid balance & maintain normal muscle function.Milk and milk productslike fermented milk products like doi,yogurt, cheese, etc. an excellent source of probiotics that enhances immunity. Thus,Milk is an accessible, affordable, and nutrient-dense food and an essential part of balanced diets across the globe.
It has been a staple food of mankind for over eight thousand years, especially in India where it is regarded as sacred and the Divine food. Milk’s special significance in India dates back to Hindu mythology and the Krishna Era. Today India is the world’s largest consumer and producer of milk followed by The United States and Europe. Indian heritage marks the celebration with milk and milk products as part of different festivities. It’s been our tradition to welcome the guests with kheer and rabri. To serve dahi as a starter before leaving for some auspicious events.Indian Dairy industry has grown over the years with several local brands flourishing not also here but is entering global market.
Milk Day Activities:
Seeing the heartbreaking suffering of people in our country and the economic hardship many are facing; you can mark the day by gifting a packet of milk to those in need who do not have access to nutritious meals. Another way could be supporting the cowsheds/gaushalas in your community that practice sustainable and humane dairy farming. Some other Milk Day activities could include drinking a glass of milk and preparing your favorite dishes using milk, participating in local online Milk Day events, sharing the benefits of milk on your social media platforms, and much more.
Donating a packet of milk to those in need who do not have access to nutritious meals. Another way could be supporting the cowsheds/gaushalas in your community that practice sustainable and humane dairy farming. Some other Milk Day activities could include drinking a glass of milk and preparing your favorite dishes using milk, participating in local online Milk Day events, sharing the benefits of milk on your social media platforms, and much more.
The celebration of World Milk Day includes various events, activities, seminars, and workshops being organized across the world that show the importance of milk in people’s lives. Social media celebrations are also conducted via hashtags such as #WorldMilkDay & #EnjoyDairy. It also motivates dairy farmers to make short-length videos showing the process of farms and dairy sectors so that people can be made aware of dairy practices.
India commemorates its Milk Day celebration 2024 by releasing the restored film ‘Manthan’ across India on June 1 (World Milk Day). The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) released Shyam Benegal’s restored ‘Manthan’ in 100 cinemas across 50 cities in the country. This is a good initiative taken by the Government of India and is a hidden agenda of increasing awareness about milk and the white revolution among our young generation. The future lies in sustainable dairy development and helping small marginal dairy farmers increase their revenues through innovative dairying.
In India, the Milk Day celebration this year can be taken as a step towards saving our future generation from the menace of drug addiction and junk drinks like sweetened carbonated beverages thereby draining their energies. Let us contribute to this milk day celebration with milk and milk-based beverages like thandai, lassi, rabdi, milk smoothies, and shakes as part of our daily thirst quenchers this summer and beating to the global theme of quality nutrition for all.
Let us all celebrate this year’s milk day to the tune of Amul’s milk campaign.
(The author is Assistant Professor, Dairy Technology, Faculty of Dairy Technology, R.S Pura SKUAST Jammu).
