ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, bid farewell to the first woman dairy technologist of India. Dr Latha Sabikhi was the first woman student to have joined BSc (Dairy Technology) at the Karnal campus of NDRI in 1977. After working with various organisation, she then completed her MSc (Dairy Technology) from NDRI in 1991. Soon after completion of masters, she joined the institute as a scientist. She excelled in research and served the institute in various roles during her more than three decades of service. She was awarded the International Professional Women Opportunity Award by CorFiLaC, a scientific consortium of the Italian Government and Universities.

Foreign Deputations

She also represented India during a few of the prestigious foreign deputations. A few of them have been mentioned as below.

• International training on ‘Enhancement of CLA in dairy foods by natural fermentation with probiotic lactic acid bacteria’ at the Department of Dairy Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA for a period of two months (8.2010 to 22.10.2010). The training was funded by National Agricultural Innovation Project, ICAR.
• Invited to participate as a resource person and participant in the Cheese Making Course organized under the project International Professional Women Opportunity – iPWO conducted by ConsorzioRicercaFilieraLattiero-Casearia (CoRFiLaC), Italy, a consortium of University of Catania, Sicilian Government and local Sicilian cheesemakers. The visit was funded by CoRFiLaC. The duration of the visit was two weeks (April 29- May 11, 2007).
• Invitation to participate in CheeseArt -2006; 5^th Edition of the Biennial event of Culture and Science of Traditional Dairy and Agricultural Food Products of Mediterranean Countries and Seminars on Women and Development of Emerging Countries organised by ConsorzioRicercaFilieraLattiero-Casearia (CoRFiLaC), Italy, a consortium of University of Catania, Sicilian Government and local Sicilian cheesemakers. The visit was funded by CoRFiLaC. The duration of the visit was five days (June 27- July 2, 2006).Awarded International Professional Women Opportunity Award consisting of a certificate and a gold medal during the event.
• Source : The Tribune and website of NDRI Karnal June 3rd 2022