MP minister dishes out local nutritional food advice

SHILLONG: The Centre should launch a national indigenous food initiative to identify and study traditional and regional foods with better nutritional benefits, Madhya Pradesh Welfare and Child Development Minister Archana Chitnis said here on Sunday.
Addressing a gathering at a national seminar on ‘Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture’ at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region under its ‘Umiam declaration’, Chitnis said an independent technical mission should be established for development and designing of local ‘thaalis’ (platter) and Indian ‘thaali’.
“We need to adopt a holistic approach towards providing food and nutrition to every Indian and this can be achieved by following the philosophy of integral humanism,” the minister said.
The declaration sought adoption of traditional wisdom and their implementation in contemporary agricultural policies and practices, Chitnis said.
The ‘Umiam declaration’ recommended that local diverse nutritious food be explored and identified that can be promoted in local cultivation and cropping patterns.
“A national indigenous food initiative should be launched by the Centre to identify and study the traditional and regional foods with their nutritional benefits to enable dissemination and incorporating them into regional diets,” Chitnis said.
The two-day seminar that concluded on Saturday was organised by ICAR Research Complex in collaboration with Deendayal Research Institute, Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh).
Experts deliberated on how a complete platter can reach the masses at several technical sessions.
Praise for Deendayal Upadhyay
Speaking on the occasion as the Chief Guest, Governor of Tripura Tathagat Roy praised Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay saying he had done a lot for the country.
An exhibition cum technological programme was also organised to display the food diversity of the North East and other parts of India. (With inputs from PTI)