In an announcement made on Wednesday, the Union Home Ministry informed that meals served to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will now include dishes prepared with millets.
According to an official statement, the decision to incorporate 30% millets in the meals served to the forces was made after thorough discussions with all the forces, as per the directive of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
It has been stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made a significant decision to incorporate millets in the meals provided to personnel of the CAPFs and NDRF, during the International Year of Millets-2023.
The United Nations has designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets, recognizing the importance of millets and their potential to create both domestic and global demand, as well as their ability to provide nutritious food to people.
Millets are a healthy food option that not only benefit individuals, but also offer advantages to farmers and the environment. These grains are rich in energy, resilient to drought, require less water, and can be cultivated effortlessly in arid soils and hilly areas. Additionally, they are less vulnerable to pests.
Millets offer several significant advantages, including being a valuable source of protein, gluten-free, low in Glycemic Index (GI), and rich in dietary fiber, micronutrients such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, and phytochemicals. These nutritional benefits make millets an excellent addition to a soldier’s diet, enhancing its overall nutritional profile.
The Home Ministry issued a directive for all military forces to incorporate millet-based meals into their menus.
The military forces have responded positively and expressed enthusiasm for regularly incorporating millets into their meals. Additionally, millets will be extensively utilized in various functions and events of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
To make millets readily accessible, specific counters/corners will be established in Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar, grocery shops located on the campuses, and ration stores.
The military forces will arrange for the training of cooks in the preparation of millet-based dishes through reputable institutes specializing in this field.
Expert agencies and dieticians will be employed to raise awareness among troops and their families about the benefits of millets and their usage.
In addition to this, a variety of events such as exhibitions, seminars, webinars, workshops, and symposiums will be organized to promote the awareness of “Know Your Millets.”
According to the statement, the International Year of Millets 2023 will offer an opportunity to enhance global production, efficient processing, and better utilization of crop rotation, while also promoting millets as a significant component of the food basket.
