Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today launched fortified milk of MILKFED with Vitamin A and D ‘Him Gauri’ in the State in collaboration with TINI-Tata Trusts and National Dairy Development Board, here today.Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister said that fortified milk was widely used around the world to help people to get nutrients that may otherwise be lacking in their diets. He said this milk offered several benefits compared with unfortified milk. Fortified milk is cow milk that contains extra vitamins and minerals that are not naturally found in milk in sufficient amounts, he added.Chief Minister said that it was necessary for good health that we all take balanced and nutritious diet. He said that most of the edible packaged products available have a detailed chart of nutrition contents, but still a lot more was needed to be done. He said that milk was very nutritious product especially for children and therefore it should contain all required nutritional ingredients. He said that the MILKFED was doing commendable job by collecting about 1.40 lakh litres daily from the farmers in rural areas of the State.Jai Ram Thakur said that dairy development has been playing a major role in strengthening the rural economy of the State. He said that dairy development could go a long way in doubling the farmers’ income by the year 2022. He said that this was also the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the State Government was probably the first State of the country to provide fortified wheat flour to the consumers of the State. Chief Minister said that two new milk processing plants would also start functioning at Duttnagar in Shimla and at Mandi by 2020 under central sponsored project, which will double the potential of the milk plants.Jai Ram Thakur said in the new ‘Him Gauri’ milk of MILKFED, vitamins A and D were being added as they are heat resistant.
These compounds can be added to milk before pasteurization and homogenization, which are heating processes to kill harmful bacteria and improve shelf life.Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and Animal Husbandry Minister Virender Kanwar said that the initiative launched by MILKFED was commendable and today MILKFED has emerged as a trusted brand for its various products. He said that the milk of Pahari cow was nutritious and now the Government has launched this milk as fortified milk under the name of ‘Him Gauri’. He said that the State Government was also committed to conserve and protect indigenous breed of cattle. He said that Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development was helping the farmers in strengthening their economy. Chairman MILKFED Nihal Chand Sharma presented vote of thanks. He said that the MILKFED was providing about 14000 litre milk daily to the armed forces. He also thanked the Chief Minister for increasing the rates of milk procured from the farmers. He also detailed various activities of the MILKFED.Senior Advisor Tata Trust Vivek Arora said that deficiency of Vitamin A and D causes serious problems in children as well as adults. He said that as many as 150 lakh litre of milk was being fortified today in the country. He appreciated the efforts of the State Government for taking steps to fortify milk, oil, rice etc. National Dairy Development Board Coordinator Ms. G. Raj said that now people of the State would get fortified Him Gauri milk within Himachal Pradesh.Managing Director Bhupinder Attri welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion. He also detailed the importance of fortification of milk for general health of human beings.Industries Minister Bikram Singh, Chief Secretary Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Special Secretary D.D. Sharma, Director Food and Civil Supplies Naresh Lath, Deputy Commissioner Shimla Amit Kashyap, SP Omapati Jamwal were also present on the occasion among others.