Lok Sabha Question No. 2991 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Nutritious Cereals in Dietary Schemes
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2991

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## NUTRITIOUS CEREALS IN DIETARY SCHEMES

2991. SHRI GHANSHYAM SINGH LODHI:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल् याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  prepared  any  scheme  to  work  with  healthcare professionals  and  nutritionists  to  promote  the  inclusion  of  nutritious  cereals  in dietary schemes for various health conditions;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  consumer  participation  through  contests  and  social  media  campaigns has been used to promote consumption of nutritious cereals; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल् याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b)   The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been promoting incorporation of millets  as  part  of  a  healthy  and  diverse  diet  among  different  sections  of  people through its Eat Right India initiatives. FSSAI has also prepared a millet based recipe book called 'Shree Anna (Millets) Recipes - A Healthy Menu for Mess/Canteens'. The  book  contains  regional  specific  recipes  from  East,  West,  North  and  South. Shree Anna are also included under the Poshan Abhiyan of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Further, the Ministry of  Food and Public Distribution has revised  its  guidelines  to  increase  the  procurement  of  Shree  Anna  under  the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Integrated Child Development Services  (ICDS)  and  Mid-Day  Meal.  The  Ministry  has  also  advised  the  State Governments and Union Territories to increase the procurement of Shree Anna. An Export Promotion Forum dedicated to promotion of Shree Anna in the international market has been set up to facilitate promotion, marketing and development of Shree Anna exports from India.

(c) & (d)   As a part of promotional activities of International Year of Millets ्(IYM) -2023,  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  (MoA&FW)  is  promoting Shree  Anna  during  India's  G20  presidency.  Shree  Anna  are  also  showcased  in various events such as International Trade Fair, Surajkund Mela etc. A key event organized towards International Year of Millets was the Global Millets (Shree Anna)

Conference,  held  from  18 th   -  19 th   March  2023  at  IARI  Pusa  campus,  New  Delhi which was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister. In continuation to the efforts towards mainstreaming Shree Anna, a 'Millets Experience Centre (MEC)' has been opened at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi with an aim to raise awareness on Shree Anna and encourage its adoption among  general public. In order to encourage consumption of Shree Anna among government employees, all Government offices have been advised to include Shree Anna snacks in departmental trainings/meetings  and  Shree  Anna  based  food  items  in  departmental  canteens. MoA&FW has also  installed  vending  machines  for  Shree  Anna  products  through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to various Ministries/Departments. Shree Anna and its products have been identified as One District One Product (ODOP) in 19 districts of 10 States.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting through DD News Network carried out  awareness  campaign  on  Millets  and  International  Year  of  Millets-2023  (IYM2023) with live telecast of events, special prograrnmes, ground stories, interviews in all  bulletins  and  prime  time  news  shows.  In  addition,  Akashvani  Stations  are broadcasting  "Kisanvani"  &  "Kisan  Ki  Baat,  programmes  in  collaboration  with Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare.  Moreover,  sustained  programmes  are being broadcast through 97 identified stations on the nutritive benefits of Millets in human  diet,  its  significant  role  in  ensuring  food  security,  its  uses  as  nutri-rich livestock  feed,  climate-friendly  cultivation  and  cost  effective  remunerative  farming for farmers. Apart from this, discussion and interview bases programmes have also been  produced  by  News  Services  Division  (NSD),  All  India  Radio  to  raise  the awareness  on  the  benefits  of  millets  and  awareness  material  is  also  being extensively  disseminated  on  various  digital  platforms  of  NSD.  Various  recipes based  on  millets  have  also  been  uploaded  on  Akashvani  samachar  Youtube channel.

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