IFFCO Managing Director Dr. Uday Shankar Awasthi honored with Rochdale Pioneer Award (International Award)

Independent morning.

Bureau Prayagraj.

When IFFCO Managing Director and CEO Dr. Uday Shankar Awasthi was honored with the Rochdale Pioneers Award on Tuesday by the International Cooperative Society ICA, there was a wave of happiness in IFFCO Phulpur. The employees and officers congratulated each other. Executive Director of IFFCO Phulpur, Sanjay Kudeshiya said that today not only the cooperative power of Indian cooperative societies has become famous all over the world but it is also a proud moment for the IFFCO family. With this award, eight lakh cooperative societies of India along with the people associated with them are feeling proud.

Let us tell you that the ICA Board established the Rochdale Pioneers Award in the year 2000. This award is given to an individual or cooperative organization who has made a significant contribution to innovative and financially sustainable cooperative activities. It is a matter of pride that the first award was given to Dr. Verghese Kurien of India, the father of White Revolution, in 2001. Dr. Awasthi is the second Indian to fill the vacancy of 23 years. Dedicated to cooperatives, Dr. Awasthi has played a key role in making IFFCO a global leader in the fertilizer industry. This award was presented on Tuesday at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi which was witnessed by representatives of 105 countries.

There is an atmosphere of celebration in IFFCO Phulpur on this achievement. Jitendra Tiwari, International President of All India IFFCO Officers Federation, Anurag Tiwari, President of IFFCO Phulpur Officers Association, General Secretary Swayam Prakash, Employees Union President Pankaj Pandey, General Secretary Vijay Yadav, HR Head Shambhu Shekhar, officers and employees congratulated each other. Told that Rochdale Pioneer Award is a personal achievement of every IFFCO employee.

Honoring Awasthi ji is also an important mention and highlight of our country India, which has eight lakh active cooperative societies, in the field of cooperative movement. Today, not only the cooperative power of Indian cooperative societies became famous all over the world, it is also a great moment of pride for the IFFCO Maha Parivar. Today, every member of the IFFCO global family feels proud of his great achievement of being an IFFCO Karmayogi.

Let us tell you that. The ICA Board instituted the 'Rochdale Pioneers Award' in the year 2000. In 2001, this honor was given to Dr. Verghese Kurien of India, in 2003 to Francisco Luis Jimenez Arcilla (Colombia), Lloyd Wilkinson (UK), in 2005 to Hans Dahlberg (Sweden), Yehuda Paz (Israel), Ian McPherson (Canada), In 2007, Esther Gicheru (Kenya), Prof. Ungku A. Aziz (Malaysia), Francisco Ceballo Herrero (Spain), Ivano Barberini (Italy) in 2009, Lee Jong-kook (Korea) in 2011, Pr. Florencio Eguia Villaseñor (Mexico) in 2012, Roberto Rodrigues (Brazil) in 2013, Plunkett Foundation (United Kingdom) in 2013, Dame Pauline Green (United Kingdom) in 2015, José Carlos Guisado (Spain) in 2017, Howard Brodsky and Kim Byong in 2019 -Won (United States and Republic of Korea) Had got it.

Let us tell you that the full credit for taking IFFCO to the top of the world's largest farmer cooperative organization goes to Dr. Uday Shankar Awasthi. Dr. U.S. Awasthi is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from Banaras Hindu University (BHU). After completing his graduation in 1967, he started working with Shriram Chemical Industries in Kota. He worked with them for about three years and then joined Zuari Agro-Chemical, Goa in 1971.

Dr. U.S. Awasthi was then involved in key roles in projects with IFFCO and KRIBHCO. These projects included the construction of the Amla and Hazira projects from 1976 to 1986. In 1986, he became the managing director and chairman of Pyrites, Phosphates and Chemicals Limited (PPCL). From April 1991 to March 1992, he was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF).

In 1993, Dr. Awasthi became the Managing Director of IFFCO. During his dedicated tenure, he has been instrumental in making IFFCO a global leader in the fertilizer industry. Under his guidance the organization has seen continuous growth. Apart from this, OMIFCO (Oman India Fertilizer Company) formed by Dr. Awasthi helped India save Rs 23,000 crore in terms of imports from Oman. He has also contributed significantly in diversifying IFFCO into seventeen subsidiaries across the world.