Forest Food Security

The roots, herbs, and water chestnuts found in the forest are very vitamin-rich and nutritious foods. It would be good if these were provided in PDS and as midday meals for school children.

— Sushama Digal · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha

Tungemasha, potatoes, and Panikonda are all found in the forest. If Panikonda is included in PDS and mid-day meals, then children will remain healthy by getting nutritious food.

— Basanti · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha

The aquatic plants, tubers, mushrooms, and all other forest products found in the forest are nutritious food. Therefore, if we can add this food to PDS and school mid-day meals, it would be very good.

— Sushama Digal · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha

If forest foods like Char, Mahua, Kendu, Mango, and Jam are added to PDS and mid-day meals, consumers will get nutritious food.

— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha

If forest-based foods like Mahua, Chironji, and Kendu were prepared and given to our school children in their Mid-Day Meal, it would be beneficial.

— Priti majhi

Including ladoos made from Mahua, a food found in our forests, in the school's mid-day meal will be nutritious for children.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

Including food items like mahua ladoo made from mahua found in our forests in the school's midday meal can provide nutritious food to children.

— Anjana Khadia · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha

In the forest, there are many types of food, such as various nutritious tubers (kandha), which can be given during midday meals in schools and also protect against various diseases.

— Deepanjali Nayak

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

Mahua is found in the forest, it is a very vitamin-rich food, it would be good to give this to children.

— Laxmi Bagh · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha

If the nutritious 'char laddoo' made from Mahua found in our forests is included in the school's mid-day meal, children will be nourished.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

Among forest products, Mahua is also a nutritious food. It would be good if the government utilizes this Mahua in various ways and provides it in school mid-day meals.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

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

The forest contains nutritious foods like Pitalu, Baya, Tunga, Water Yam, Elephant Foot Yam, Bitter Ginari greens, Putukuli, Honey, Amla, Bahada, and Kendu. The government should consider adding some of these to the PDS (Public Distribution System).

— Prasanna Pradhan · Mayurbhanj, Odisha

In our forest, fruits, roots, leaves, flowers, and leafy vegetables grow naturally. There are no chemicals in them, and they are completely nutritious. It would be good to serve them for lunch.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha

If we talk about the most nutritious food, if the government provides our forest products like Mahul, Char, and Kendu as food in MDM (Mid-Day Meal), then children will eat it and become intelligent.

— Priti majhi

It is true that bringing vegetables and leafy greens from the forest provides nutritious food for a growing body.

— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

Speaking of the most nutritious food, if the government provides our forest products like Mahul, Char, Kendu, etc., as food in MDM (Mid-Day Meal), children will eat them and become intelligent/wise.

— Priti majhi

By bringing the greens found in the forest, powdering them, and including them in PDS, they can be used as nutritious food.

— sudhir gamanga · Birikota, Rayagada, Odisha

To include forest-based foods like Mahua ladoo, Char ladoo, Phuljhi, etc., in PDS and midday meals.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

It would be good if the government provides forest foods like honey, Chaar, and Kendu as food in the midday meal.

— Priti majhi

The Mahua from our forest is very rich in vitamins and is given to children as food for their nourishment.

— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha

Give children forest food or good food available from the forest in school.

— Puspanjali Nag

It would be good if forest products like Mahula, Char, and Kendu were provided in mid-day meals through PDS.

— Priti majhi

In our forest, mushrooms, ruguda, karadi, and giril flowers are found. These should be served in mid-day meals at PDS schools.

— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha

It would be good if the government provides forest foods like Mahua, Chhar, and Kendu as food in the MDM (Mid-Day Meal scheme).

— Priti majhi

We can give fruits found in the forest like :- Tendu, Char, Aonla in our lunch.

— Upendra Kumar Mahananda

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 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 forest products like Mahul, Char, and Kendu are provided through the PDS system for mid-day meals.

— Priti majhi

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

It would be good if forest products like Mahua, Chaar, and Kendu were included in the preparation of our children's Mid-Day Meal.

— Priti majhi

Fruits obtained from the forest are also important for the physical and mental development of children and for providing nutrition; the government should include them as traditional food items in school mid-day meals.

— Anil Pargi · Maliya Dokar, Banswara, Rajasthan

Using all the fruits, flowers, leaves, greens, and root vegetables obtained from nature's forests in lunch can provide more nutritious food.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha