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The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an American animal rights organisation, has urged Amul India to switch over to producing vegan milk instead of dairy milk. PETA’s proposal is out of sync with the Indian society.

Amul has a remarkable contribution in turning India from a milk deficit to a milk surplus nation. It is one of the most successful and enduring business models which provides livelihood to 12 million dairy farmers. Activists should not be allowed to interfere with its operation or way of functioning or become a hindrance to its growth.

The dairy sector is one of the crucial sectors in the Indian economy. In 2017, milk and milk products contributed more than 20.6% of the combined output of paddy, wheat and pulses. India is self-sufficient in milk production because 73 million dairy farmers, especially women, are engaged in the dairy sector. The model of Amul, which is a cooperative farming model, is a unique three-tiered structure proceeding from the village level to the district level and eventually to the state level, another example of which is difficult to find.

Milk is an essential commodity. Switching over to vegan milk would make this essential commodity unaffordable. Also dairy-based milk is more nutritious than plant-based or genetically modified soya milk. Moreover, milk is an irreplaceable component in almost all Indian households, not only for its nutritional aspect but also for its cultural significance.

Veganism as a concept originated in the west and doesn’t really factor-in the Indian food practices and ecosystem. In fact, many still confuse being vegan with being a vegetarian. India has always been a dairy-loving country and veganism as a lifestyle is yet to find widespread acceptance in the country.