IFFCO AGM: Chorus for Padma Award to Awasthi rises

“He is our icon and recognizing him would mean recognizing each and every farmer of the country; we want the government to bestow Padma award on Dr U S Awasthi because of whom millions of farmers are able to make ends meet in the country, said one of the emotional delegates Ankit Parihar who had come from Uttar Pradesh.

The 44th AGM saw somewhat increased number of speakers from among the delegates who put their views openly and sometimes aggressively before the audience. ” We farmers are an important political and social entity and each of us demand that Dr Awasthi be given Padma award. It would amount to respecting the farmers of India,” Parihar added in chaste UP Hindi.

Though varied suggestions and experiences were being shared by the delegates from the podium practically every delegate hailed the decision of the Board of Directors to give a five year extension to Dr Awasthi. One of the delegates from West Bengal Shanti Dey said as a fish out of water so is IFFCO without Awasthi.

Shri Thummer from Gujarat thanked the Board for giving Dr Awasthi a next term and suggested that as in the field if insurance IFFCO should also venture out in banking services. Haldhar Sarkar from Bengal said Awasthi is among one of the architects who have built IFFCO as it stands today.

IFFCO delegate Haji Saheb from J& K forced the MD to come on the mike. Appreciating Haji Dr Awasthi said its due to support of people like him that IFFCO today stands so proudly; he went to Mecca and prayed for IFFCO , me and you all- to the thunderous applause from the audience.

IFFCO delegate from Coimbatore Mr Ramchandran said Dr Awasthi is our hero as the IFFCO performance under his leadership has given many listed companies a run for their money. Subhash Behar from Uttaranchal said Udhampur district is today prospering due to the IFFCO fertilizer.

A woman delegate Sadhana felt happy that IFFCO is active in the field of empowerment of women.

Some of the suggestions given by delegates included creating visually-distinguishing neem-urea bag from the general urea, IFFCO venturing out in the field of solar energy and sticking to the distribution of fertilizer through member-societies rather than through Federation. One of the delegates also reminded the Board to decide either way on the pending issue of visit to Oman as stated earlier.