World Milk Day 2019: Drink Milk: Today and Everyday

We all should consume milk daily as it contains many essential nutrients, which is important for the body. But over the years, drinking milk has declined particularly amongst children.

A mega event with the theme DRINK MILK TODAY & EVERYDAY is being organized today, 1st June at the ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (Uttar Pradesh) on the occasion of World Milk Day.

The milk will be boiled in huge pans and hot milk will be served in earthen pots to children, women and other participating men and women. It will be followed by a poster making competition for children on importance of milk in human life culminating in a motivational lecture on importance of milk consumption. 

World Milk Day is a day established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)  of the United Nations to recognize the importance of milk as a global food. It has been observed on June 1 each year since 2001. The day is intended to provide an opportunity to bring attention to activities that are connected with the dairy sector. 

Objective of the day

• To provide information about the need and importance of milk in a human being's life.

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• Various activities are organisedon this day to raise awareness about milk and milk products. 

  To celebrate the contribution of milk and dairy products in several industries, the economy and people's lives. 

• To educate people about the nutrients present in the milk like calcium, protein, vitamin B2, potassium, iodine, etc.

• Several promotional activities about milk and its importance are launched by the International Dairy Federation on its website online. 

Milk is not only consumed by growing children but also by the people of all age groups. It is an important part of our daily diet. It has great nourishing value and a rich source of calcium, protein, fat and vitamin C. Mainly we get milk from cows, buffaloes and from other animals like sheep, goat and camel. 
 
Milk day in India

The World Milk Day event does not follow a specific theme in the world. Different countries, governments, and non-governmental organizations decide their own theme. 
The theme for World Milk Day 2019 in India is "Drink Milk: Today & Everyday".  
Various campaigns are organized in India at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh and focuses on safe, hygiene milk production and consumption.  

In 2001, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) selected June 1st as World Milk Day, which celebrates the important contributions of the dairy sector to sustainability, economic development, livelihoods and nutrition. 

The Day provides an opportunity to focus attention 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. 

The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) will celebrate the day by organizing various awareness campaigns on safe and hygienic milk production and consumption. A rally will also be organized in villages to promote the hygiene of the milk products. A poster competition will be conducted for the children and a motivational lecture on the role of milk in the rural economy and human health will also be delivered on the occasion. 

This celebration has been nationalized by organizing celebration related activities on the national and international level. It is celebrated to increase public awareness about the importance of milk and milk products for everyone throughout the whole life. 

Each one of us can contribute to raising awareness on how important milk is for healthy nutrition knowing that the dairy sector supports the livelihoods of up to one billion people worldwide!