Odisha’s 1st exclusive Millet Shakti Café in open-air restaurant mode was launched in Keonjhar

Keonjhar29/10/21:: Odisha’s 1st exclusive Millet Shakti Café in open-air restaurant mode was launched in Keonjhar District on Friday by Ms. Tukuni Sahu, Hon’ble Minister for Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha in virtual mode. Ms. Sujata Karthikeyan IAS, Commissioner cum Secretary, Mission Shakti was Guest of Honor for the event. Hon’ble Minister interacted with WSHG members and appreciated the efforts of WSHG involvement in the value addition.

Mr. Ashish Thakare IAS, Collector & District Magistrate Keonjhar said more such Millet Shakti cafés will be set up in the district. WSHG Federation members were extensively trained on technical and managerial aspects by Odisha Millets Mission. The Millet Shakti Café will sell an array of millet-based food products ready to cook, ready to eat, millet flour, millet drinks, millet evening snacks, dry bakery items, etc. Complimentary items like coffee, tea, chocolates will be served to make it an attractive spot for the young audience. Packaged millet grains, ready to eat, and ready to cook products supplied by processing units anchored by WSHGS. 15 Millet Shakti Café Outlets will be established within the next year in the urban areas of Odisha. Further training and exposure visits on advanced value addition and standardization will be done by OMM under the technical guidance of CSIR-CFTRI Mysore.

Addressing the participants, Smt. Anu Garg, Principal Secretary of Women and Child Development appreciated the proactive response of CCIs during any kind of disaster, especially during the Covid-19 wave emergency. She emphasized that the DRR package and capacity-building effort will enable the CCIs for better and effective preparedness measures for children.

Dr. Monika Nielsen, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF emphasized that state like Odisha, which is highly vulnerable to disasters. UNICEF has been closely working with W&CD Department towards improving preparedness, capacity building & inculcating risk informed programming strategies right at the most elementary level of institutions. Shri  Gautam Aryabhusan, State Coordinator, OSDMA The Disaster Risk Reduction for children in CCIs will help all the stakeholders associated with CCIs for building disaster resilient institutions across the state and strive for a better tomorrow.

The event was facilitated by Program Manager OSCPS Dr. Pritikanta Panda and is ended with a vote of thank by Ms. Neha Haidu UNICEF Child Protection Specialist.