Milma (Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation) chairman and Congress leader P.A. Balan died in a hospital in Ernakulam on Saturday at 74. He had been in hospital for the last three months following a brain haemorrhage.
Mr. Balan, popularly known as Balan Master, was one the founding leaders of Milma, and was its director board member for more than 30 years. He had also functioned as union chairman of Milma, Ernakulam region.
Even before the formation of Milma, he was active in the dairy sector as director of the Milk Supply Union, Thrissur district.
Mr. Balan was president of the Milk Societies’ Association and a member of the State Cooperative Union. He was also the State vice president of the Karshaka Congress and Ezhuthachan Samajam.
Awards
Hailing from Avinissery in Thrissur, he won many awards, including the Leading Milk Entrepreneur Award of the Indian Economic Development and Research Association in 2013. Under his leadership, Milma was modernised and the federation diversified its products.
The cremation was held at his house at Avinissery on Saturday evening.
