NITI Aayog Releases Report on Best Millet Diet Practices Across States/UTs

Aditi Rout, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Shubha Thakur, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Deepa Anand, Deputy Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, and Rajib Sen, Senior Advisor NITI Aayog, were also in attendance.

The paper covers a collection of good and innovative practices implemented by states, administrations, and organizations in various elements of the millet value chain, particularly production, processing, and consumption. The report is divided into three sections: (a) State Missions and initiatives to promote millets; (b) Millets inclusion in ICDS; and (c) Research and development and use of technology for innovative practices.

The report will act as a resource for reintroducing and mainstreaming millets into our diets. Speaking on the occasion, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman K. Bery stated, "the publication's release is very timely." The Prime Minister has shown strategic leadership in emphasizing the significance of millets.

Slowly, diets have shifted in response to environmental sustainability and health implications, and people are now appreciating millets' medicinal, nutritional, and anti-inflammatory properties. As a next step, we must use the power of branding and marketing to popularize millets as a superfood and make them fashionable."

"Millets are nutritionally wholesome crops," remarked NITI Aayog member Dr. V.K. Paul. Having a paper of this type is critical because it will offer individuals and those involved in millets who look at data, evidence, and practices to mainstream millets in our diets and systems confidence."

Prof Ramesh Chand, a member of NITI Aayog, stated, "Our Prime Minister has taken personal interest in giving millets a respectable status both nationally and globally. This Report covers good practices in policy, state missions, research and development, and technological breakthroughs to increase millets, which will aid in capturing people's interest in millets."

"Millets were a very common part of our diets," stated CEO B. V. R. Subrahmanyam. However, our eating habits have gradually switched towards rice and wheat. With the increase of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, millets are making a comeback in our diets. Millets have enormous promise in terms of national nutritional security. Our Prime Minister has played an important role in mainstreaming millets, and this compendium will help to further that cause."

(Source- PIB)