In a press conference organised by Greenpeace India, civil Society groups appealed to the Jharkhand Government to incorporate into the Midday meal scheme in the State, as an attempt to enhance the nutritional security of school-going children in the face of Climate-change”>Climate Change.
Addressing the media persons former Birsa Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture University Dean Students Welfare, MS Yadav said that Millets is a game changer for nutritional security and climate resilience in Jharkhand which highlights the climate resilient and nutrient rich properties of indigenous and local grains and their ability to address the persistent problem of anaemia and Malnutrition among children in the State.
Culturally, millets have been a staple for Jharkhands indigenous Population, and the inclusion of millet in the Midday Meals is also expected to ensure better price realisation, Equity and Justice for vulnerable tribal farmers.
Jharkhand has been struggling with dismal rates of malnutrition and anaemia with the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5)1, as of 2019-21 revealing that 67.5 per cent of children aged between five months and five years were found to be anaemic. To tackle iron deficiency anaemia in the state, finger milletswhich are local to the state have high iron content (9.8 mg per 100 gm) 2, would help address the issue.