Today afternoon, honourable President of India, Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Ahmedabad as a part of his 3 day visit to Gujarat. It is President Mukherjee is maiden trip to Gujarat. President was given a warm welcome at Ahmedabad airport by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, Gujarat Governor OP Kohli and Ahmedabad Mayor Meenakshiben Patel. President was presented with floral bouquette by Chief of Gujarat Assembly Ganpat Vasava and Chief Secretary Aloriya.
President arrived at Ahmedabd by plane of Indian Airforce.
Other state ministers including Nitin Patel, Saurabh Patel, Vijay Rupani, Rajni Patel, Vasuben Trivedi, Pradipsinh Jadeja, Ramanlal Vora, Babubhai Bokhiriya, Jayanti Kavadiya and top police officials PC Thakur, Ahmedabad Collector Beniwal, Commissioner of Information Bureau SB Raval were at the welcome of President in Ahmedabad.
From Ahmedabad President visited Anand at Kheda for opening of AMUL Milk federation’s new state-of-the-art Cattle-feed manufacturing plant. President was joined by Gujarat CM Anandiben and other state ministers.
President Mukerjee while addressing media appreciated achievements of AMUL said “I pay my tribute to great leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, Tribhuvandas Patel and Dr Verghese Kurien for their guidance and leadership in the Amul Cooperative movement. I acknowledge the tremendous contribution of the 3.6 million farmers of Amul family, He added that today AMUL is the pride of India, personifies spirit of selfless dedication and far-sighted leadership. Onus is on current generation of farmer-leaders, professionals and stakeholders to expand AMUL movement. Its success is because of ability to be sensitive and proactive to needs of farmers and dynamism to changing circumstances. AMUL Model has created a billion rupee worth brand while embracing the poorest of poor. It has ensured easy availability of high-quality, packaged milk and dairy products across country. It is today the largest liquid milk brand in Asia and the largest food brand in India and largest exporter of dairy products. I salute 150 million Indian milk producers for their efforts towards nation-building. Dedication, ingenuity, sacrifice and hard work of Indian milk producers has ensured food security in milk and dairy products. Spirit of cooperation espoused by pioneering farmers of AMUL has triggered a socio-economic revolution in rural India. AMUL’s success convergence of farmers’ wisdom, democratic set-up, professional management & adoption of right technology. Following the AMUL model could help address problems in other areas faced by our farming community.
President also visited IIM Ahmedabad and will attend 62nd convocation program of Gujarat Vidyapith today.
