A self-help group (SHG) member Rohini Patnaik never anticipated that millennials would enjoy millet- based foods like pizza or manchurian. The coarse grains, which were long thought to be inexpensive, have a new identity thanks to Chhattisgarh's Millet Mission Cafe, and they aim to give women more economic power.
The state’s first Millet Cafe in Raigarh city was set up with the initial support of the district administration and is now run by members of a women SHG. The cafe has now turned profitable, claim SHG members Veena Miri and Rameshwari Yadav. The menu includes chilla, dosa, momos, pizza, noodles, ragi-based pasta, burgers, manchurian, and kodo biryani – all made of millet.
According to one of the members, sales have climbed to Rs 3 lakh a month and that people are starting to like the dishes as a result. The millets commonly grown in India include jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), ragi (finger millet), jhangora (barnyard millet), barri (proso or common millet), kangni (foxtail/Italian millet), kodra (kodo millet), etc.
The Union government has approved Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's proposal to include millets under the midday meal programme, giving the mission a new push. To encourage farmers to grow millets, the state government has implemented a variety of policies. These consist of giving farmers an input subsidy of Rs 9,000 and purchasing crops at support prices, such as kodo kutki ragi.
Millet is a nutritious, low-cost food that has the potential to tackle hunger and malnutrition. Millets are rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals and have a low glycemic index. The Millet Mission aims to increase the cultivation of millets and promote its consumption, especially among the poor and vulnerable sections of the society.
The Millet Cafe is an excellent example of how the mission is transforming the lives of women and boosting the economy. Women who were once dependent on their husbands or other family members for financial support are now running a profitable business that provides employment to other women. Millet-based foods are gaining popularity among the youth, who are willing to pay a premium for healthy and innovative food options.
The success of the Millet Cafe has inspired other entrepreneurs to set up similar ventures in other parts of the state. The government is also planning to set up Millet Cafes in other cities and towns to promote millets and create job opportunities for women.
