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#malnutrition

Star Citizens

How a Young Bureaucrat's Initiative Changed the Face of Gumla District Forever

A district in Jharkhand known for its extreme poverty and Naxalite insurgency has become a case study in Harvard for its ragi revolution. Ragi, a type of millet, is helping to prevent malnutrition in the district, and a new agro-industry has emerged as a result of the initiative of a young bureaucrat, Sushant Gaurav. He aims to make Gumla the Ragi capital of eastern India, and his work in the district has been selected for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration. Ragi cultivation was initiated with the procurement of high-quality seeds through the National Seed Corporation. From an initial cultivation of Ragi in 1,600 acres, it was increased to 3,600 acres with a 300% net output increase. Gumla’s economy was once based on rice, but now, Ragi Laddus, Bhujia snacks, and flour are produced, which are rich in protein, calcium, and iron, and help to battle malnutrition and anaemia. Ragi processing centres, owned and operated by only women, ensure daily production of one tonne of Ragi flour, 300 packets of Ragi Laddus, and 200 packets of Ragi snacks under the brand Johar Ragi. The laddus made of Ragi are being provided to children to fight malnutrition, along with ‘saag and vegetables’ from identified 52 types, mainly moringa powder and curry leaves in mid-day meals to boost nutrition at a very affordable cost. Avinash Kumar, Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow, Ministry of Skill Development, Government of India, presented a case study at Harvard Business School on behalf of the deputy commissioner, and the institute is doing a case study on the Gumla model. It will be circulated among international business schools and will be used for training bureaucrats. The success story of the production, procurement, and processing of Ragi has spread, and more and more people have come forward to cultivate the grain. The district aims to transform from an aspirational district to a transformational and inspirational one. The success of agriculture, from farm to fork, will be the priority, and Gumla is set to become the Ragi capital of the whole eastern India.

25 Apr 2023
Star Citizens

Positive Reads

Know Why the Year 2023 Is Observed As the International Year of Millet

Since the dawn of time, millets have been a mainstay of human nutrition. They are a collective term for a variety of tiny-seeded grasses that are cultivated as grain crops in 131 nations. In addition to being rich in iron, manganese, phosphorus, and fiber, they are also high in protein. Because of their exceptional nutritional profile, millets are frequently referred to as "Superfoods." Millets have several incredible health advantages. They assist in losing weight and lower the chance of developing several lifestyle diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions. They lower levels of harmful cholesterol and have a low Glycemic Index. According to research, a millet-based diet promotes children's growth and combats anemia and malnutrition in young children. What’s more, millets are ready in a lot less time, don't need much water, and can thrive in rather poor soil. Millets are suitable for no-till and dryland farming. They can withstand heat and drought. Millets were an obvious choice given all these fantastic advantages since, in addition to being nutritious, they can make a difference by ensuring global food security  Here is an interesting fact: India is the world's largest producer of millets, making up 20% of production worldwide and 80% of production in Asia.  

22 Nov 2022
Positive Reads

Mid-Day Meals- an Effective Way to Alleviate Malnutrition Among Kids

Malnutrition is a persistent problem in India which proves to be fatal many times as it puts children at a greater risk of dying from infections, increases the severity of infections and delays recovery. Various initiatives have been introduced by the government and NGOs across India to address this issue. One such effort was made by former Air Force pilot Captain Rajesh Sharan and his wife, Shanta Sharan who founded the Diksha School in Gurugram that provides a well-balanced meal to its students right from its inception in 2008. Diksha Provides All-Round Development Diksha started with only 13 students and currently, the strength of the school is 410. Most of the students are children of migrant workers. The couple noticed that the children were very weak as their parents couldn’t care for them much as they had to leave early to earn their living and would return only in the evening. Most of the parents were construction workers, domestic helps and rickshaw pullers. The couple decided that along with education, the students of their school should also be given proper nutrition. A Well Balanced Meal Speaking to NDTV, Principal of Diksha, Vandana Aneja said that two full-time cooks have been employed to prepare meals that have been designed in such a way that it meets the nutritional requirements of the children. The lunch comprises of legumes, sambhar, rice, kichdi and vegetables.  Funds are raised with the help of volunteers, neighbors and corporate to financially support the institution. The school also conducts one yoga class and has a game period and physical training period every week for the overall development of the student. They are also taught about alcohol and substance abuse through workshops. The parents of children are happy and relieved that their children are getting at least one full meal in a day. We require more people like Rajesh and Shanta Sharan who went out of their way to tackle the issue of malnutrition among children.

20 Sep 2019
Positive Reads

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