An initiative under the Anemia Mukta Bharat campaign, the Millet Feeding Pilot, was ceremonially launched on January 10, at Adarsha Vidyalaya Mazbat in Orang, Udalguri. Spearheaded by the Assam Millets Mission, this pilot program aims to combat anaemia through dietary diversity and behavioural change, while evaluating the acceptability of millet-based foods in nutrition schemes.
The initiative will provide Finger Millet Sweet Mix and Khichdi Mix to 2,465 children across 11 schools and 755 adolescent girls through 52 Anganwadi centres in the district over the next three months. The intervention is underway to address anaemia by incorporating nutritional, educational, and social approaches.
The millet-based products were developed by the Department of Food and Nutrition Science at the Community Science College, Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat, in collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad. The pilot will also assess the palatability of these foods and explore the feasibility of integrating millets into state nutrition schemes in the future.
The launch event was attended by dignitaries, including Manojyoti Kutum, Additional District Commissioner (Education) and Inspector of Schools, alongside officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Health Services, Women and Child Development, Education, and Health and Family Welfare. Teachers, parents, and children also participated in the program, which was jointly organised by these departments.
This pilot represents a step towards addressing anaemia, which remains a pressing public health issue in Assam.
