After Caritas India and her partners presented a memorandum for the promotion of millet, Maharashtra Assembly discussed how millet could be mainstreamed in the state. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Shri Ajit Pawar demanded a slew of measures for the promotion of millets which included inclusion of millets in the Public Distribution System and increasing the availability of millet seeds.

While on a mission to review the development of the Melghat region, Shri Ajit Pawar met with the civil society organisations including Caritas India on 20 August 2022. During the meeting, Caritas India had made a representation before the lawmaker about the necessity of popularising millet as a food and nutrition security measure. Mr. Ajit Pawar visited Didamba village where Caritas India along with her local partner Dayasagar Social Centre is implementing SABAL, a programme working for the food and nutrition security of Korku community.

“Kodo, Kutki, Sava, Ragi, and Rala millets are the traditional and indigenous millets of the Melghat tribal region. These minor millets can change the malnutrition scenario of Melghat.

Hence farmers of Melghat should get improved seeds of millets for production. Millets should also be included in Public Distribution System.

Besides, more research must be conducted on millets” Ajit Pawar said while addressing the monsoon session of the Assembly on 25 August 2022.

Mr. Ajit Pawar also demanded the agriculture minister to take urgent steps for increasing millet cultivation in the Melghat region which has been historically afflicted by chronic hunger and malnutrition.

Community collectives formed by SABAL had organised a welcome programme when the lawmaker along with a contingent of senior government officials visited Didamba village. Mrs. Jigibai, Chottelal Mawaskar, leader of Mother’s Collective and millet grower farmer of SABAL welcomed Mr Ajit Pawar. She then discussed with him the malnutrition status in the Melghat region and presented a memorandum to him demanding the inclusion of millets in the Public Distribution System so that millets are easily available for tribals. She also informed the lawmaker the importance of millet in terms of nutrition and income.

“We presented the memorandum to the leader of the opposition demanding more supportive measures of the state government to increase the cultivation of minor millets in the Melghat region. Specifically, we demanded greater and easier availability of millet seeds for Korku farmers and inclusion of minor millets in PDS”, said Mrs. Jigibai Chottelal Mawaskar.

Mr Harichand Bhilavekar of Dayasagar Social Centre explained to Shri Ajit Pawar how millets were once a staple food of the Korkus but today millet has been replaced by cash crops. The disruption in the traditional food system has worsened the health of Korkus as acute malnutrition became endemic.

Dr. Mukund Deshmukh of Caritas India informed Shri Ajit Pawar about the successes of Caritas India in reviving millet and increasing food crop cultivation in the region. Dr. Mukund also presented Shri Ajit Pawar with the samples of millets that were revived by SABAL and the IEC materials on millet promotion. In the press conference organised immediately after his visit to the SABAL intervention area, Mr. Ajit Pawar promised to raise the subject of millet promotion in the Legislative Assembly. During his visit, Mr. Ajit Pawar also interacted with the families of malnourished children and enquired about their health.

During the opposition party leader’s visit, deputy CEO ICDS visited one of the Anganwadi centres at Didamda village along with the SABAL team and reviewed the ongoing SABAL initiatives. He enquired about SABAL initiatives and assured to give all the support towards the eradication of malnutrition.

Caritas India has been implementing SABAL in 102 villages which have been affected by malnutrition in the Melghat region. The programme has succeeded in reducing malnutrition of children below five years by 36% with an array of measures including behaviour change, sanitation and hygiene, millet promotion, soil and water conservation and popularising of sustainable agriculture practices. The programme also helped nine villages in the region to become completely free of acute malnutrition.