In a first in the State, the Keonjhar district administration has introduced ragi laddus as morning snacks for preschool children under the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS).
The objective of the initiative is to improve the nutritional status of preschool children as well as revive the age-old tradition of millet consumption.
Ragi laddus are to be served to children at Anganwadi Centres on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Two ragi laddus per week will be prepared and served to children at Anganwadis in addition to the existing menu.
The ragi laddu mix will be prepared by Self Help Groups (SHGs) and home-delivered till COVID protocol is in force.
The programme for providing ragi laddus has been taken up in 335 Anganwadis of the district’s Sadar block on a two-month pilot phase from July 1.
The Odisha Government has launched a special programme for promotion of millets in tribal areas under the Odisha Millet Mission.
Keonjhar district administration has introduced ragi laddus as morning snacks for pre-school children (between 3 to 6 years of age) enrolled under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme in the district.
Laddus will be prepared at home by mothers and served to children until the Anganwadi Centres are opened, the district administration said.
The ragi laddu mix will be prepared by SHGs with experience in THR supply or running any other enterprise at scale.
To reduce drudgery and ensure quality and hygiene standards, a Ragi Processing Unit consisting of a Grader-cum-Aspirator and a Destoner will also be set up at the SHG-level.
The total budget for the programme is Rs 1.5 crore per annum and will be entirely funded by DMF.
The major objective of the initiative is to improve the nutritional status of pre-school children and revive the age-old tradition of millet consumption, once prevalent among the tribal communities of Keonjhar.
The initiative will also provide an additional source of income to women SHGs, an assured price to farmers for ragi and boost local production of ragi and other millets.
District Collector Ashish Thakare launched the Introduction of Ragi Laddus for pre-school children under ICDS from DMF Keonjhar
This is also a unique model in the country with decentralized production, procurement, processing, supply and consumption of millets.
Ragi has over 30 times more Calcium and 4 times more Iron than polished rice. It also has more fibre, minerals and antioxidants.
The initiative will also provide an additional source of income to women SHGs, an assured price to farmers for Ragi and boost local production of Ragi and other millets.
Ragi Laddus will be prepared and served to children at Anganwadi Centres, in addition to the existing menu on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The entitlement per child is 2 laddus of 20gms per week. As the COVID protocols are currently in place, pre-cooked, Rag, Laddu Mix will be provided via home delivery for pre-school children.
The initiative is a part of the ongoing "Special Program for Promotion of Millets in Tribal-cum-Mining Areas of Keonjhar under DMF" implemented in partnership with Departments of A&FE, WCD&MS, ST & SC, M&BCW, FS&CW and technical support of NCDS, WASSAN and CSIR-CFTRI.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a government programme in India which provides food, preschool education, primary healthcare, immunization, health check-up and referral services to children under 6 years of age and their mothers.
Odisha has led the country in including millets under ICDS and we are sure other states are going to follow its path. The ragi laddu mix will be prepared by SHGs with experience in running any other enterprise at scale.
In the first cabinet meeting held on 29th May 2019 , Cabinet of Government of Odisha under chairmanship of Hon’ble Chief Minister has approved inclusion of ragi ladoos in ICDS scheme.
For setting up of machinery for inclusion of ragi ladoos, an technical assessment of Chhatua making unit run by Radhakrishna SHG, Sadar block was also carried out in presence of DSWO madam and Dr. Usha Dharamraj from CFTRI, Mysore
While inclusion of millets (jowar and little millet) in hot cooked meal is difficult to be implemented with current capacities. It shall be taken up in phased manner after streamlining of the inclusion of ragi ladoos in ICDS.
After implementation of the pilot, it shall be taken up in the other districts of OMM in phased manner. A detailed action plan shall be submitted for the consideration of the Collector & DM, Keonjhar.
In a first in the State, the Keonjhar district administration has introduced ragi laddus as morning snacks for preschool children under the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS).
The objective of the initiative is to improve the nutritional status of preschool children as well as revive the age-old tradition of millet consumption.
Ragi laddus are to be served to children at Anganwadi Centres on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Two ragi laddus per week will be prepared and served to children at Anganwadis in addition to the existing menu.
The ragi laddu mix will be prepared by Self Help Groups (SHGs) and home-delivered till COVID protocol is in force.
The programme for providing ragi laddus has been taken up in 335 Anganwadis of the district’s Sadar block on a two-month pilot phase from July 1.
The Odisha Government has launched a special programme for promotion of millets in tribal areas under the Odisha Millet Mission.
The entitlement per child is 2 laddus of 20gms per week. As the COVID protocols are currently in place, pre-cooked, Rag, Laddu Mix will be provided via home delivery for pre-school children.
The initiative is a part of the ongoing "Special Program for Promotion of Millets in Tribal-cum-Mining Areas of Keonjhar under DMF" implemented in partnership with Departments of A&FE, WCD&MS, ST & SC, M&BCW, FS&CW and technical support of NCDS, WASSAN and CSIR-CFTRI.
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