1

overnment of Odisha has launched Millet

Mission to revive millets in plates and farms

in the 7 tribal districts of Odisha. One of

the objectives of the programme is to

explore inclusion of millets in state nutrition

programmes such as ICDS, MDM and PDS. As part of

the initiative, first pilot programme on inclusion of

millets in ICDS was launched in 10 AWCs in

Chandiput GP, Mohana Block in Gajapati district on

20.12.2017. This event was conducted under the

guidance of Women & Child Development

Department and Agriculture Department. The project

will be implemented by Anganwadi workers and

helpers. Funding is being provided through state

plan 2017-18 through Millet Mission initiative.

WASSAN and NCDS is provided the design and

technical supportfor the initiative. Field level

supported is provided by SACAL NGO.

The pilot initiative was inaugurated by the Ms.

Sushree Basanti Mallick MLA Mohana. Ms. Moina

Hebrum, DSWO Gajapati was guest of honor. Other

government officials who attended the event are

Block Chairman, Sarpanch, Assistant Agriculture

Officer, CDPO, District Training and Nutrition

specialist Officer.

More than 250 people including children, mother

committee members, Anganwadi workers, helpers

and others participated in the event. A discussion

was conducted with participants on how they see the

millets. Women farmers mentioned that they are now

considerably weaker compared to their previous

generation. Stamina has also reduced. Men and

women are now having numerable diseases which

they did not have before. They attributed these

things to changes in the dietary processes. They

G

GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA

LAUNCHES PILOT PROGRAMME

TO INCLUDE MILLETS IN ICDS

IN MOHANA BLOCK

GAJAPATI DISTRICT, ODISHA

2

expressed happiness that millets are now being

considered to be part of state nutrition programmes.

Ms Sushree Basanti Mallick MLA spoke about the

importance of millets. She said that rice supplied in

ICDS is less nutritious compared to millets. Hence if

millets are supplied, it will play an important role in

increasing nutritional security in the Adivasi areas of

Gajapati district. She also suggested that additional

millet meal should be provided the pregnant

mothers in the NRCs. She requested WASSAN to

arrange for a district level event to take this up

forward. She said that as an Adivasi woman of the

area, she has been a witness to the decrease to

consumption of millets. In order to secure the future

of the Adivasi children, bringing millets into state

nutrition programmes is crucial.

Ms Moina Hembrum DSWO spoke about the

nutritional values of millets and how it can bring

nutrition revolution among the children. She said

Department is also very excited about the initiative

and will provide all the necessary support for the

initiative. Department is looking forward to scale up

the initiative based on learnings. Participants took a

pledge to promote organic millets on daily

consumption and to fight malnutrition. DSWO read

out the pledge.

Ms Kuntala Kumari Nayak CDPO Mohana also

mentioned how consumption of millets can reduce

the malnutrition among the children. She said a

generation should not depend completely.

Consumption of nutritious food crops that have been

endemic to the region for hundreds of years is most

important to reduce the malnutrition.

Mr Srinivas, District training manager cum nutrition

operation plan specialist spoke importance of

maintaining hygiene during the consumption of

millets. Mr Bhabendra Behera, Assistant Agriculture

Officer spoke about the role of millets in combating

climate change. He mentioned that with improved

agronomic practices it is possible now to double the

yield in an organic manner. With good market price

and government support, millets are now becoming

an economically viable crop.

Mr Dinesh Balam , State Coordinator, Millet Mission

Odisha spoke about the process through which

millets may be included in the ICDS in phased

manner. Process of inclusion will be in a participatory

manner. Menu will be designed based on the local

dietary practices and local food customs. State

Government is also looking forward to scale up the

initiatives in a phased manner.

3

DSWO and CDPO distributed foxtail millet kheer and

ragi ladoo to the students. This was followed by

cultural programmes by local Adivasi youth.

This was followed by serving of millet recipes (Foxtail

millet (Kangu) kitchdi and little millet (Suan) upma)

to the students and oral feedback was taken from

them.

RECIPE SELECTION WAS CARRIED THROUGH

FOLLOWING PROCESS

Discussions were conducted at Anganwadis with

mother committee members, students,

anganwadi workers and helpers to identify the

local millet consumption pattern and their

choices of recipes.

This was followed by discussion with Anganwadis

to determine which recipes would be easy to

cook and will not increase the burden of the

staff.

The millets which were locally available were also

classified and a menu was developed.

Thus through this participatory process, millet

recipes which reflect traditional consumption

patterns, which are locally available and are not

burdensome to cook were chosen for the pilot

testing. Through this process , two recipes i.e. Foxtail

millet kitchdi and little millet upma were finalized.

Recipes received a very good response from children,

mothers and anganwadi workers. Mother Committee

members also gave verbal recommended the recipe.

They were asked to give recommendation on paper.

These recipes were also consumed by MLA, DSWO,

CDPO, AAO, Sarpanch, DT&NP, Block Chairman and

other officials. They appreciated the menu and asked

WASSAN to pilot it in the other blocks. DSWO has

asked WASSAN to arrange training for all the

Anganwadi staff in phased manner.

Material procurement and other aspects will be

worked out in another 4-5 days. Pilot will be formally

launched from 1st January 2018. It was also decided

to conduct a training at Gajapati for Anganwadi

workers and helpers to cook millets in the NRC

before 2nd week of January 2017.