Millet is going to start trending in the central paramilitary forces. Millet will be permanently included in the diet of jawans and officers of these forces which number 11 lakh. This scheme will be implemented in a phased manner in CAPFs and Assam Rifles. This decision has been taken in the meeting of all the central forces held at the Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block on 19th April. Till now the delicious dishes, which were prepared with the help of rice, wheat, semolina or any other product, will now be prepared with millet. Many dishes including pakora, halwa, kheer and dosa will be prepared from coarse grains. CRPF has issued a circular in this regard to all its units.

On April 19, in a meeting held in the Union Home Ministry regarding Millet, the use of coarse grain in CAPF, NSG and Assam Rifles was discussed. Major millets include jowar, bajra, ragi, cocoon, kutki, kodo, sava and chenna. At present millet is being promoted as a 'super food'. Information regarding millet has been given in the circular sent by CAPF to various units, sectors, group centers and other units. The letter states that during the Green Revolution in 1965, the emphasis was on millets. However, even then millet was being used traditionally in different parts of the country.

Millet supplies many essential elements in the body. The Government of India had declared 2018 as the 'Millet Year'. Its objective was to increase the production and consumption of coarse cereals in the country. In March 2021, the General Assembly of the United Nations, in its 75th session, declared 2023 as the International Year of Millet. This was done to create awareness among people about millet and its health benefits.

In the circular of CRPF, many advantages of millet have been enumerated. Through coarse grains, the body gets a very good amount of nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fiber and good quality fat etc. Along with this, coarse grains also contain minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc and B complex vitamins. For this reason, millet is called 'nutrition rich and climate smart' crop. Millet has also been mentioned in the Prime Minister's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. PM Modi has named it 'Shri Anna'.

In the meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Ajay Bhalla, it has been said to implement the use of millet in a phased manner. Under the first phase, 25 per cent millet will be included in the food served in the mess of CAPFs. It houses the officer mess and the mess operated for other ranks. Also, during all the regimental functions held in these forces, 25 per cent of the food will be millet. Products made from millet up to 25 percent will also be included in the breakfast, lunch and dinner of all jawans in the central paramilitary forces.

The help of dieticians and doctors will be taken to connect the jawans of the forces with the millet. The Medical Directorate of CAPFs will constitute a board of officers and dieticians to work out the inclusion of 25 per cent millet in the jawans' diet. While preparing the menu of CRPF, the help of many other organizations including AIIMS can be taken, where there are sufficient number of dieticians and nutritionists. Nodal officers will be deployed to check where and how much millet is being used. These nodal officers will prepare a report every two weeks on the work to be done for the promotion of millets at the zone, sector, range and GC and unit levels. It will also be seen whether the quantity of wheat and rice consumed daily has been reduced by 25 per cent. In which force how much millet is being used, this report will be sent to the Union Home Ministry by the 2nd of every month.

Upma, millet sprouts, laddoos and pakodas will be prepared from jowar. Dosa, khichdi, upma and roti will be made from millet. Idli, halwa and lemon rice will be prepared from ragi. Potato idli, piri-piri french fries, list finger, vermicelli kheer and halwa will be made from jowar. Khichdi, pakodi and upma will be made from millet. Ragi can be used to make dosa, idli, potato patties and vermicelli curry rice. Cheese ball, manchurian, payasam, samosa and cutlet will be prepared from chenna millet. All paramilitary forces have been asked to get in touch with the Food Corporation of India and NAFED for procuring adequate quantities of jowar, bajra and ragi. The forces will have to inform that the quantity of Jowar, Bajra and Ragi has been procured every month. This information will have to be compulsorily given to the group center, unit and other establishment.