SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF LAUNCHING OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS ORGANISED BY KHETI VIRASAT MISSION AT PUNJAB RAJ BHAVAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2022

It is indeed a pleasure to be at this unique event, where we will experience the revival and celebration of a lost legacy.

Today, we are faced with a challenge of building a food system which is sustainable, is resilient to climate change , and can provide nutritional security to the common man.

India has greatly progressed in the areas of agriculture and food technologies but sometimes, problems can be simply solved by learning from our rich heritage.

The ancient grains of Millets have always been a part of our food legacy and culture. From Kashmir to Tamil Nadu, from Gujarat to Meghalaya, if we need to pick a food that binds us all?, it will be Millets!

A proven source of health benefits, Millets are now called NUTRI-CEREALS.

They Millet form an alternative food system in an era of rising demand for vegetarian foods.

Millets have superior nutritional values in comparison to highly consumed cereals such as rice and wheat . Millets are rich in calcium, iron, and fibers that help in fortifying essential nutrients for the healthy growth in children. Also, the usage of millets in the infant food and nutrition products is increasing. They are a storehouse of micronutrients such as B-complex vitamins and minerals that are lacking.

With the least water consumption, low carbon footprint, and the fact that millets can be grown even during drought conditions, the millets are referred to as climate-friendly crops.

Millets contribute to abalanced diet as well as a safe environment. These are the gifts of nature to mankind.

Recognizing this, our Government is now leading the way to bring Millets back into our diets . First, declaring 2018 as theNational Year of Millets, and now declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets, our hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has shown that the Government is committed to a food system which is:

- Good for us

- Good for the Farmer

- And Good for the Planet

"Millets can solve global malnutrition and hunger. We all must celebrate the International Year of Millets with great enthusiasm next year ," said Hon’ble Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi Ji at the recently concluded G20 summit.

In the coming months, we will see the unfolding of the Government of India's vision to promote Millets. FromSchools to Government institutions, from Anganwadis to Mid-day meal programs, we would like to see millets being an integral part of the meals .

Friends,

I sincerely believe that Millets should not be discarded by saying that it is the food of the poor, rather it should be publicized the world over like Yoga and Ayurveda , since they all are important from the point of view of health.

I am sure from building mass awareness to promoting cultivation and processing of Millets, the year 2023 will be the year when Millets will become a household name once again.

But, this is only possible when common people haveaccess to all types of Millets as well as the know-how regarding making various Millet dishes!.

I hope after today's event, you will have no doubt in your mind about the possibilities this grain has to offer.

To make this a success, a lot of work must be done, and we will need partners like Kheti Virasat Mission to jointly plan and execute such programs.

I look forward to many more events to spread awareness about the consumption of millets and its health benefits.

I would request the officers of the various departments to actively engage in celebrating the International Year of Millets .

In the end, all good things start at home! Let us all take our first step towards bringing back millets on our plates. I would urge all of you to start with ONE millet dish in your meal every day.

I thank Shri Umendra ji and his team for organizing this, and Rambau ji for bringing this experience to our guests.

Thank you,

Jai Hind .