Launched in May last year by the Raigarh district administration, the goal remains to create awareness about the often neglected millets having tremendous health benefits besides to support the “Millet Mission” initiative of the state government. PM Narendra Modi has already appreciated the initiative of Chhattisgarh to open Millets Cafe across the State during CM Bhupesh Baghel’s recent visit to Delhi.
Millets cafe in the Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh might look like any other good standard restaurant but will surprise visitors who gain an insight into the inherent benefits of the nutri-cereals used to prepare various relishing food items listed in the menu. The cafe’s role goes beyond any typical eating place as it enlightens the customers, too.
The United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets under the ambition propagated by the Indian government. Chhattisgarh, often cited as the ‘rice bowl’, aims to become the millet hub of the country.
They offered their customers a wide variety of dishes including millet momos, millet cheela and dosa, millet Manchurian, millet pizza, ragi pakoda, ragi papad, ragi roti and kodo biryani.
“Millets are highly nutritious but their potential benefits remain overlooked and ignored. The approach with multi-departmental convergence is key to achieving millet promotion”, said Bhim Singh, who conceptualized it while he was a Raigarh collector.
Rohini Patnaik who runs the Café’s operations observed: “We want to provide healthy food and make sure that it satisfies the taste buds of the customers. With the initial support from the district administration, now our cafe is self-sustainable.”