Bhubaneswar: A state-level collaborative millet workshop-cum-tasting event titled “Millets for Better Health and Nourishing Future”, aimed at promoting the consumption of millets for better health and a nourishing future was organised by Odisha Millets Mission at the Convention Centre, Lokseva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, on 2nd August 2023. The primary objective of the meeting was to foster cooperation between the Health and Education sectors, bringing together important stakeholders, including the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the Department of School and Mass Education, Private Schools, and Private Hospitals.
A large gathering of about 400 participants including officials from Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Mission Shakti Department, Department of Health & Family Welfare Department, Department of School & Mass Education, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, and representatives from hospitals such as Capital, Apollo, AMRI, KIMS, SUM, CARE, Kanungo Diabetes Centre, representatives from KIIT, KISS, Mothers Public School, Sai International School, DAV School, ODM Public School, KIIT International School, Narayana School, representatives from women self-help groups, and others attended the state-level millet workshop-cum-tasting event.
Addressing the participants, Ranendra Pratap Swain, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment and Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, who graced the occasion as chief guest, said, “The work being carried out by the state government through Odisha Millets Mission programme is for a great cause and commendable. We are not reinventing but rediscovering millets.
Odisha Millets Mission is making all-out efforts to bring millets back to our plates. Millets are very nutritious and it has the potential to better the health of the people of our state, especially children. We have to make millet-based food palatable for them. Collaborations with different stakeholders is crucial for the success of the programme and I am very happy to see the commitment and dedication of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the Department of School and Mass Education, Private Schools, and Private Hospitals towards the mission. We have the goal to bring millet-based foods to everyone at par with rice and wheat. If we all work together, we will definitely see the day when millets become part of our daily diet.”
In the introductory session, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, gave an overview of Odisha Millets Mission and said, “Millets are good for people, good for the planet and good for the farmers. But through Odisha Millets Mission, we also want to make this inclusive so that someone at the last mile can also be benefitted by this.
We are also making efforts to preserve the landraces or the traditional varieties of millets through this project. In this journey of revival of millets, the most important stakeholders are hospitals and school children. That’s why we are collaborating with Department of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of School and Mass Education, along with hospitals and school, both government and private, and Department of Mission Shakti to achieve the goal of the mission.
In this regard, a preliminary series of meetings has already been held with the concerned departments to evolve a common strategy. In addition, preliminary outreach activities have also been undertaken in private schools and hospitals. Now it is time to take the discussion to the next level. Our collaboration with the health and education sectors, both government and private, will have a lasting impact on health and future our children and society.”
Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries and participants, Prem Chandra Chaudhary, Director of Agriculture & Food Production, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, said, “The theme of today’s workshop is “Millets for Better Health & Nourishing Future” and its purpose is to engage with two most important stakeholders in this journey are medical and student community.
Students are future of our generation and the knowledge of millets can be spread across in the fastest way possible through them. Doctors are most critical for endorsing millets to people for its immense health benefits and nutritional value. Similarly, we are also engaging with the Mission Shakti officials. So I believe today’s workshop will be a turning point in the journey of Odisha Millets Mission.”
About the collaboration between Odisha Millets Mission with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Brundha D, MD, National Health Mission, Odisha, said, “We have made a preliminary action plan which includes creating awareness among masses through VHND, GKS, Jana Arogya Samiti sessions and through the team working at the grassroots level. On the other hand, we are also going to organize seminars and workshops to generate awareness in medical colleges and nursing colleges. Millets are also going to be included in the menus of the hostels in those colleges.”
Regarding the action plan for the proposed collaboration with Odisha Millets Mission, Anupam Saha, Special Project Director, OSEPA, stated, “We have planned to conduct quiz, extempore, and essay competitions at the school, cluster, block, and district levels during the SURAVI festival to raise awareness about Millets among students. Additionally, we will organise exposure visits for students to Mission Shakti cafes, millet processing units, and millet outlets.
Awareness campaigns will be carried out among students, teachers, and community members to promote millets. We have also developed a board game for students, which will educate them about the nutritional and health benefits of millets. Furthermore, through a Village History Pilot Programme, students will document their village history, food culture, and consumption of millets in their village using workbooks. As part of the event, stalls representing Odisha Millets Mission will be exhibited at SURAVI ground, showcasing various activities, products, and cafe models related to Odisha Millets Mission.”
Discussing the partnership between Odisha Millets Mission (OMM) and AIIMS, Dr. Ashok Kumar Jena, who serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Dentistry at AIIMS, highlighted the numerous health and nutrition advantages of millets. He also outlined the current measures taken and future plans for collaboration with OMM. Additionally, AIIMS nutritionists, Ms. Soumya Sucharita Prusty and Ms. Mamta Tiwari, shed light on the nutritional and dietary benefits of millets.
They elaborated on the various methods of incorporating millets into the regular diets of different groups, including children, mothers, elderly individuals, and people with specific health conditions.
Representatives from private schools including KIIT, KISS, Sai International and others also welcomed the suggestions during the workshop and expressed their willingness to implement those in their schools. Lastly, members of some Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) narrated their success stories on the occasion.
