Context: There is a news article in Indian express dated 22 march 2023 to allow millets under PDS, we will understand the various aspects of news in detail.
Who recommended millets in PDS?
To boost the consumption of millets, a Parliamentary panel has suggested that beneficiaries of different government schemes like PDS should be given the option to bundle millets along with wheat and rice.
Which parliamentary committee is related to PDS?
The Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution presented a demand for a grant report in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday for the department of food and public distribution. The report said that States are allowed to procure coarse grains/millets (Jowar, Bajra, Maize and Ragi etc.) from farmers at MSP under the central pool.
What is the procedure to procure and distribute millets under PDS?
This is subject to the prior approval of the Centre on the detailed procurement plan prepared by State Governments in consultation with FCI and also as per Guidelines for procurement, allocation, distribution and disposal of coarse grains/millets.
Under which schemes Millets can be distributed by States?
The procured quantity should be distributed under TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System)/OWS (Other welfare Schemes) in the State/UT.
What are the new changes made in the guidelines?
- Further, the report said that the Department has revised the guidelines for allocation, distribution and disposal of coarse grains procured by the State Agencies/FCI and
- Enhanced the distribution period to 6-10 months from an earlier period of 3 months.
- Provision of advance for subsidy inter-state transportation of surplus millets through FCI is also incorporated.
What is the role of the department of food and public distribution?
The Department also informed that the millet promotion is being done by the Agriculture Ministry in coordination with the Agriculture Departments of various States and the Department’s role is confined only to procuring them and distributing them for various schemes such as PDS, MDM (mid-day meal) scheme and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
What is millet at all?
Millets are a group of cereal grains that belong to the Poaceae family, commonly known as the grass family. Some of the millets are ragi, bajra, jawar etc.
What is the importance of millet?
- Millets have gained popularity in the West because they are gluten-free and boast high protein, fibre, and antioxidant content.
- Millets provide more essential amino acids than most other cereals. These compounds are the building blocks of protein
- What’s more, finger millet boasts the highest calcium content of all cereal grains. Calcium is necessary to ensure bone health, blood vessel and muscular contractions, and proper nerve function.
- Millets are rich in fibre and non-starchy polysaccharides, two types of undigestible carbs that help control blood sugar levels.
- This cereal also has a low glycaemic index (GI), meaning that it’s unlikely to spike your blood sugar levels. Thus, millet is considered an ideal grain for people with diabetes.
- Millets contain soluble fibre, which produces a viscous substance in your gut. In turn, this traps fats and helps in reducing cholesterol levels.
- They’re also able to survive in harsh environments and less fertile soil.
- They have multiple advantages over other crops, including drought and pest resistance.
Is there any downside to millet?
Despite millets’ multiple health benefits, they also contain antinutrients — compounds that block or reduce your body’s absorption of other nutrients and may lead to deficiencies.
One of these compounds — phytic acid — interferes with potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium uptake. However, a person with a balanced diet isn’t likely to experience adverse effects.
Other antinutrients called goitrogenic polyphenols may impair thyroid function, causing goitre — an enlargement of your thyroid gland that results in neck swelling.
Nevertheless, this effect is associated only with excess polyphenol intake
What are the recommendations of the panel?
The panel recommended
- Ministry should encourage the production and procurement of millets in all the States especially the States having significant tribal populations such as Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh etc.
- Ministry should provide all possible aid/assistance/bonuses to farmers opting to grow millets.
Further, to encourage the consumption of millets, the Committee further suggest that the beneficiaries of different schemes should be given the option to bundle millets along with wheat and rice within their entitled quantity.