Sunday, 22 January 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Uttarakhand government has decided to include millets in the Mid Day Meal (MDM) being provided to the students in the government schools and the Anganwadi centres in the State. This announcement was made by the Education and Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat while inaugurating the ‘Eat Right Millets’ fair at Sheeshamjhadi in Rishikesh on Saturday. The fair is being organised by the Food Safety and Drugs Administration department of Uttarakhand. Speaking on the occasion he said that the year 2023 is being celebrated as International Year of Millets on the call given by the United Nations Organisation (UNO). He said that India’s role in the mission is important because the UN has made this declaration on the proposal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rawat said that Uttarakhand has been an important centre for production of millets so the responsibility for publicity and production of millets is more on the State. Terming the millets as panacea for better health, he said that the State government has increased the minimum support price of Mandwa from Rs 25 per kilogrammes to Rs 35 which will promote the farmers to produce this millet. The Minister said that direct purchase of Mandwa is being done through the cooperative agencies by the cooperative department which would help in doubling the income of the farmers. He added that the State government is also promoting Jhangora, Cholai, China, Kuttu and other millets through the agriculture department. The minister exhorted the representatives of different hotels, restaurants and social organisation to promote the dishes made from the millets. He appreciated the stalls in the Fair where dishes made from millets were being served. The students made Rangolis and painting based on the theme of millets on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion the additional commissioner of FDA Arunendra Singh Chauhan said that the fair is the first millet fair of the year which was sponsored by the international candy company. He expressed gratitude of different social organisations and representatives of hotels and restaurants for participating in the fair. The representative of the company sponsoring the event Prabhar Mishra said the company would provide every possible help for promotion of the millets.
The district magistrate of Tehri Saurabh Gaharwar, other senior officers of administration and teachers and students were present in the programme.
