Awards

The 'Dr. Kurien Award' has been instituted to honour individuals who have contributed significantly to the development and growth of the Indian dairy industry. This is the highest award and is given once in two years which consists of a memento, a citation and a cash prize of Rs. Two Lakhs. It is named after Dr. Verghese Kurien, who pioneered the White Revolution in India. In the early 70s, Dr. Kurien launched the Operation Flood programme, the largest project for dairy development in the world, which demonstrated how food aid could be effectively employed as an instrument of development. It is the result of Dr. Kurien’s pioneering work that the Indian dairy industry has today emerged as the largest milk producer in the world. Indeed, he can be called one of the greatest contributors to the economy of rural India. The award recognises achievement of dedicated individuals and institutions and provides impetus for further progress in every field associated with Indian dairying.

A person who has been a member of the Association with outstanding academic or professional achievements in Dairy Science and/or technology or one who has rendered signal service to the cause of the Association and/or dairying or dairy industry for many years may be awarded the Patronship of the Association. A Patron shall be nominated for life, and shall be entitled to have all the rights and privileges of a Life Member of the Association.

A person who is a Life member of the Association and has been a member for not less than last five consecutive years, who has actively participated in the affairs of the Association and who has rendered valuable services to dairying and dairy industry by way of research, teaching extension, administration and development may be awarded the Fellowship of the Association.

This is an annual award, instituted in 2016, is bestowed to the best dairy women — one each from all the four zones of IDA.