Smt. Jashiben Desai Becomes Vice-President of Dudhsagar Dairy to Promote Women's Leadership

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 26 May 2022

The Board of the Mehsana District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Limited (popularly known as Dudhsagar Dairy) in Gujarat has elected Smt Jashiben Desai as its Vice-Chairperson in an effort to foster women's rise to power. She's worked at the Dairy for almost two decades.

Since Amratbhai Desai resigned for personal reasons, the position of Vice-Chairman had become vacant. Now, the board has unanimously elected Smt. Desai as the dairy's Vice-Chairman.

It's no secret that the Amul dairy movement, led by the renowned Verghese Kurien, was largely carried out by the state's women. However, there have been rare instances where women have held positions of authority. Jashiben's example could motivate women to advance in their careers, according to cooperators.

Desai has been affiliated with the dairy for more than two decades, according to one of the dairy's senior officials. She is the representative of one of the dudh mandalis in Kasva village, Kadi Taluka, Gujarat's Mehsana District.

GCMMF Managing Director Dr R S Sodhi expressed his delight at the news, writing, “One big boost to women empowerment at @Amul_Coop When Smt Jashiben Desai of vill Kasva , was unanimously elected as Vice chairman of one of the biggest district union at Mehsana @dudhsagardairy She is pouring 150 litre milk daily in village coop society”.

One user responded to Sodhi's social media post by writing, “Wow! So happy to know that these unsung heroes are getting recognized. Hope more village women will be encouraged under her leadership”.

Another user commented, “The revolution in lives of rural women is a result of the foresight of Tribhuvan kaka, and pioneering work of Kurien, with huge Gujarati social ethos of support to each other. Remarkable”.

It's worth noting that Dudhsagar Diary is one of the GCMMF-affiliated milk unions that sells milk and other dairy products under the Amul brand.

The dairy was founded in 1960 with the noble goal of providing equitable compensation to milk producers. It is a district-level apex body of milk cooperative societies in the Mehsana District, whose mission is to offer remunerative returns to milk producers while simultaneously serving the interests of consumers by delivering high-quality, safe milk and milk products at a reasonable price.

With over 10 lakh farmer members throughout Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana, the dairy has a total turnover of over Rs. 5800 crore.