A dimension within Grain Security
Highlights nutrition and food security via local foods, PDS, and school meals, including millets.
150 voices speak to this
Positive
Overall Community Sentiment
Kodo, kutki, maize porridge, along with horse gram, moong, and rahat dal, should be given in mid-day meals and also included in the PDS.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Amla pickle should be included in mid-day meals among local forest food items, and traditional produce like Kodo, Kutki, maize, and pulses like Kurthi, Moong, Chana, and Rahar should be included in PDS.
— Rupesh Maravi
Kodo kutki, maize, wheat, and kulthi and pigeon pea grown in our region should also be included in mid-day meals and PDS.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Millet and horse gram should be included in the midday meal.
— Kachala Choudhary
Our native little millet, kodo, maize, sorghum, arhar, urad, kulthi, moong, and soybean should also be included in the government's ration card and in our school's midday meal.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
The most nutritious locally available moong dal and urad dal should be included in PDS and mid-day meals.
— AbhiLL Ipsa
The government should promote the most nutritious foods easily available in our region, such as kodo, kutki, maize, along with tur dal, gram, and horse gram lentils, and include them in PDS and mid-day meals.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Our traditional nutritious food like kodo, kutki, maize, sorghum, wheat, etc., as khichdi and dalia should be given in mid-day meals, and it would be great if the government also includes such grains in PDS.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
The traditional nutritious food of our community like Kodo, Kutki, maize, sorghum, wheat, arhar, sesame, masoor, moong, chana, batla etc. should be included in PDS (Public Distribution System) and mid-day meals, and the government should promote them.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Kodo, kutki, maize, and sorghum porridge, and also indigenous pulses, should be included in the midday meal, and it would be very good if the government promotes them.
— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
Nutritious food items like ragi should be introduced in mid-day meals and PDS.
— Sunil oraon · Gumla, Jharkhand
Finger millet, kueri, foxtail millet, pumpkin, baitalu, black gram, kating, pigeon pea, green gram, queen yam, and rice yam should be included in the midday meal.
— Sabina · Tumudibandh, Kandhamal, Odisha
Our traditional crops like Kodo, Kutki, maize, Rahar, Kurthi, chickpeas, and other pulses should also be given in schools and Anganwadi centers under the Midday Meal Scheme, and they should also be promoted by the government.
— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
Include forest-based food items such as Mahua laddoo, Chaar laddoo, Fuljhi, etc., in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Now, not much food is available in the forest, but our community's traditional grains like Kodo Kutki khichdi, dalia, and Tur, Chana, and Masoor dals should be included in the PDS, and our children should also receive these in their midday meals.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Yes, our local foods like Kodo, Kutki, and wheat porridge should also be included in the midday meal, and the government should also promote similar food items.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
The government should include millet in PDS or mid-day meals.
— Kusha Mahakud
From the forest, we collect ruguda mushrooms, mudhi saag, kuiler saag, girel flowers, bhindua kadi, and so on. If all these are nutritious foods for us, they should be included in the midday meal.
— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha
Local food in our village includes maize roti, millet roti. In the rainy season, children like vegetables such as okra, chaula, papdi, etc., which should be included in the midday meal.
— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
To include forest-based foods like Mahua ladoo, Char ladoo, Phuljhi, etc., in PDS and midday meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Amla, Chironji, Tendu, Mukaiya - these are wild food items that should be included in the midday meal.
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
Our traditional crops like Kodo, Kutki, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Kangni, Rahar, and Kurthi should be included in mid-day meals and the PDS, and if the government also promotes them, it can definitely happen.
— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
Local forest produce such as Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, Sarala leaves, and Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, traditional foods like millet porridge should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, do not include packaged food and food from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha
The most nutritious local food items to be included in PDS and Mid-Day Meal are pulses, as they are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and essential minerals. Additionally, leafy green vegetables like spinach, and local seasonal fruits like guava, berries, and dates should also be included as they are rich in vitamins.
— Jagannath Baraik · Lapung, Ranchi, Jharkhand
In addition to the lentil dish (dialunda) served to the children of our Anganwadi during midday meals, they should also be provided with our forest-based products, such as seasonal leafy greens.
— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, Odisha
In the mid-day meal, our Anganwadi center should prepare and provide various items using kodo, ragi, and Guruji's food, so that children get their vitamins.
— Ulapi Sahu · Patnāgarh, Balangir, Odisha
The most nutritious locally edible forest food items should be included in PDF mid-day meals, and the government wants to promote their nutritional value for children.
— Laxmanlal
It would be good if all the nutritious foods found in the forest such as Lepherasā, Kachar sāg, Gukurijīv sāg, Kaḍī, Heḍuā, Chhati, Ruguḍā are added to the Mid-Day Meal PDS.
— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha
While promoting our traditional grains, the government should also include them in PDS and mid-day meals.
— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
Coarse food items, Batti Ravi, Kulthia's Ghugri, etc., should be added in schools and Anganwadi centers.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Fruits found in the forest such as Jamun, Custard Apple, Mahua, Chawar, etc., should be added to the Midday Meal.
— Gopal
Local forest produce like Kendu, Chaar, Jamukoli, and Mahul are rich in nutrients. Wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school midday meals to provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children. During festivals, we do not provide packaged food and market/shop items to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, ragi and mandua should be included in school midday meals.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
It would be good to provide food like millet (ragi) and pulses to school children twice a week during their midday meal.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK
Local forest produce such as Kendu, Chaar, Jamu Kali, and Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Sambalpur, Odisha
It is necessary to provide forest-based food in the PDAS midday meal.
— Sarat suna
Lentils and wheat should be provided for midday meals and in the society.
— Pushpalata Surtange · Tilda Neora, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
Local forest produce like Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, Mahula contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods from the forest should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
The local forest foods most crucial for tackling severe malnutrition are Charo, Kendu, and Pitalukanda, which should be promoted by the government by providing them in PDS and midday meals.
— Pankajini Chhatria
Mahua flowers and other foods obtained from the forest are very nutritious. Therefore, it is appropriate to include these foods in PDS or mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.

By incorporating local, traditional grains like ragi and millet into school lunch programs, communities can significantly improve children's health and well-being.

Our community advocates for the integration of traditional, locally sourced foods into public programs to nourish children and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.

To preserve our health and culture, we advocate for the inclusion of native, nutritious grains in public food programs.

By cherishing and utilizing the traditional foods and herbs found in our forests and lands, we can sustain ourselves and combat malnutrition while preserving our natural heritage.