Bhubaneswar: Very soon, the Collectorates across Odisha will be having Millet Cafes run by Women Self Help Groups (SHG), under the branding – Millet Shakti. The objective of the initiative being, to improve livelihoods of Women SHGs and the good health of the consumers.
In a letter to Collectors on Tuesday, Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (A&FE), Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Mission Shakti, Sujata R Kartikeyan advised to set up a Millet Shakti Cafes run by Women SHGs on the premises of the Collectorates and other key locations of the districts.
The Collectors have been asked to explore ways to open more number of Millet tiffin centres, preferably in Block headquarters. “In addition to utilising the budget available through inter-componental transfer under OMM, you are encouraged to leverage funds from other permissible sources in the district,” the letter read.
You are aware that Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment is successfully implementing the flagship initiative, Odisha Millets Mission (OMM).
It may be noted that Odisha Government’s flagshi initiative, Odisha Millet Mission by Department of A&FE, has been acknowledged as a replicable model for revival of millets and received recognition, nationally and globally.
One of the key objectives of OMM is to promote urban and rural consumption by spreading awareness about the nutritional benefits of millets and their products.
In this regard, OMM has entered a partnership with Mission Shakti Department for setting up millet outlets/cafes through Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) under the common branding of Millet Shakti.
Millet outlets/cafes through WSHGs set up at Krushi Bhavan, Kalinga Stadium, Birsa Munda Stadium in Sundergarh and other locations (Millet Tiffin Centers in more than 100 locations across the state) have received an enthusiastic response from the consumers.
Besides, Collectors of Keonjhar and Sundargarh have already opened Cafes in their Collectorate premises. Senior officials of A&FE and Mission Shakti Departments have been asked to communicate the matter to field officials for speedy implementation of the program.
