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Shri Amit Shah, the Honorable Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Government of India, officially flagged off the Amul Clean Fuel Rally from Himmatnagar, Sabarkantha District, Gujarat. The rally, featuring 12 Maruti Suzuki Bio-CNG cars driven by the Amul team, marks a significant milestone in Amul’s push towards sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Shri Amit Shah, alongside various dignitaries including Shri Jagdishbhai Vishwakarma, MOS for Cooperation & Industries, and Shri Shamalbhai Patel, Chairman of GCMMF (Amul), also inaugurated a new state-of-the-art cattle feed plant at Sabar Dairy in Hajipur, Himmatnagar. Addressing a gathering of over 15,000 farmers, Shri Shah emphasised the positive impact of India’s dairy cooperative movement on farmers' lives. He noted that the movement has been instrumental in empowering women and boosting the nutrition and prosperity of the Sabarkantha region and Gujarat.
Highlighting the success of initiatives like the Gobardhan Yojana, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote waste recycling, environmental protection, and soil health, Shri Shah commended the role of cooperatives in implementing sustainable practices.
The Amul Clean Fuel Rally is part of a broader initiative by Amul to raise awareness about sustainability and circular economy principles. The rally is one of four major events taking place across India, including Pune, Kolkata, Jammu, and Himmatnagar, which will culminate in Delhi on November 26, 2024 for National Milk Day celebrations. The rallies, comprising 24 Bio-CNG Maruti Suzuki cars and 24 Bajaj Bio-CNG bikes, will travel through various states, engaging with farmers and dairy cooperatives to honour the legacy of dairy cooperatives and promote the importance of clean energy.
Amul’s Bio-CNG pilot project at Banas Dairy, Gujarat, is a key part of this initiative. The project converts animal dung into clean fuel and organic fertiliser, providing farmers with additional income while helping to reduce the environmental impact of traditional farming practices. With plans to expand this project and set up more plants across Gujarat, Amul is establishing itself as a key player in the circular economy.
Shri Shamalbhai Patel, Chairman of GCMMF (Amul), expressed, “The Amul Clean Fuel Rally is a step towards a greener, more sustainable future for our dairy industry. It demonstrates our commitment to self-sufficiency and environmental responsibility.”
In addition to the rally, India is set to host the International Cooperative Alliance’s (ICA) Global Conference for the first time in its 130-year history, from November 25-30, 2024, in New Delhi. The event will focus on the theme, "Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All", and will be attended by global leaders, academics, and practitioners. It will also mark the official launch of the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC2025).
A special screening of Amul's national award-winning film Manthan will be held during the ICA Global Conference on November 26, at Bharat Mandapam.
