Surat : In a heartwarming initiative that promotes both women empowerment and healthy eating, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) headquarters has welcomed a new canteen with a twist - "Milets Café" is run by a self-help group (SHG) and exclusively serves dishes made from millets. This move not only provides employment opportunities for women but also introduces the benefits of these nutritious grains to employees and visitors.

From Tea and Coffee to Ragi Idli: Gone are the days of limited tea, coffee, and breakfast options at the SMC canteen. Now, fragrant aromas of ragi kachoris, theplas, shiras, and idlis waft through the air, tempting patrons with their wholesome goodness. The SHG, aptly named "Sakhi Mandal," meaning "friends' circle," brings a touch of home-cooked goodness to every bite.

Empowering Women, One Millet at a Time: The initiative is rooted in the DAY-NULM scheme, a government program aimed at empowering women from urban poor families. By providing the SHG with this canteen space, the SMC offers much more than just a livelihood. It fosters self-reliance, financial independence, and a sense of community among the women.

Leading by Example: The dedication of the SMC to the cause is evident in the visit of top officials, including the Commissioner, Mayor, Permanent President, and Councilors, to Millets Café. This not only shows their support for the SHG but also encourages employees to embrace the healthier fare.

A Call to Action: The cafe's success hinges on one key ingredient - active participation. The SMC's appeal to its employees to "use cafes" serves as a call to action, urging everyone to embrace the diverse flavors and nutritional benefits of millets. This shift in food culture can pave the way for a healthier and more empowered future for both the SHG members and the SMC community as a whole.

From humble beginnings as a breakfast spot, Milets Café has blossomed into a symbol of women's empowerment and a beacon of healthy eating within the SMC. As more people savor the delicious millet dishes and witness the dedication of the Sakhi Mandal women, the ripple effect of this initiative could extend far beyond the canteen walls, inspiring others to embrace inclusivity and celebrate the power of community.

Lucknow, March 30 (IANS) The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is planning to introduce nutritious additions in its menu which will include millet-based dishes.

IRCTC's chief regional manager Ajit Kumar Sinha said that all the vendors in Uttar Pradesh -- including 78 static units at railway platforms -- have been asked to add millet-based food items in their menu.

"Along with them, mobile units of railways, pantry cars, and IRCTC restaurants in the government buildings have also been given the same direction," he added.

The IRCTC official further said, "The measures are being undertaken in line with 2023 being declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Millets."

According to IRCTC, food items such as millet laddoo, bread and roti made of bajra, jowar, ragi, millet kachori, millet khichdi, millet dalia, millet biscuits, ragi idli, ragi dosa, and ragi uttapam, among others will be served to train passengers.

Ayodhya, March 27 (IANS) Ayodhya has been selected to launch the pilot project of the Yogi Adityanath government to promote production of coarse grains, including millets, in the state.

According to a spokesman, the state government is planning to spend about Rs 100 crore, as proposed by the agriculture department, to promote production and consumption of coarse grains in the state.

The state government wants people to include coarse grains in their daily diet and it is preparing a blueprint to release grants and subsidies for setting up of processing units.

It would also help in achieving the target to double up the farmers' income since coarse grains require less water for irrigation, while their farm input costs are also economical in comparison to other crops such as wheat and paddy.

The state government is encouraging farmers to cultivate prominent coarse cereals, including maize, jowar, bajra (millets) and jau (barley).

Deputy director, agriculture, Om Prakash Mishra said: "About 1,200 hectare land has been identified in Ayodhya district in Sohawal and Pura Bazaar areas for the farming purpose. We have started giving technical support to farmers for the farming of coarse grains. The government will also provide quality seeds to them soon."