Amrita Patel, 

NDDB is undoubtedly India’s most powerful agency for dairy development, involving millions of farmers across the country who make a living out of milk. Patel is in complete control and is driving a massive effort to get NDDB nearly Rs 17,000 crore from multilateral financial institutions, a chunk of which will be used to change the way dairy products are marketed here. This comes at a time when firms such as Kraft and Britannia are increasing their market shares quickly. But this is not without its share of controversy. Also, as a protégée of Verghese Kurien, considered the father of India’s milk revolution, she got impatient when her mentor did not retire at 65. Four years later, following a tussle with Kurien, Patel is holding strong with no successor in sight.