The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday said millets-based dishes will be served in the meals of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) or paramilitary forces and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
The decision to introduce 30 per cent millets in the meals has been taken following a directive from Union Home Minister Amit Shah after detailed discussion with all the Forces, an official statement said.
In the International Year of Millets-2023, the Union Home Ministry has taken a momentous decision to introduce millets in the meals of personnel of CAPFs and the NDRF, it said.
Recognising the importance of millets and creating a domestic and global demand along with providing nutritious food to people, the United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets.
Millets are good for health and also beneficial for farmers and environment friendly.
The millets are energy dense, drought resistant, with lower water requirements and can be grown with ease in arid soils, hilly terrain and is less susceptible to pests.
Some of the important benefits of millets are – good source of proteins, gluten-free; low in Glycemic Index (GI); and rich in dietary fibre, micronutrients including calcium, iron, phosphorus and phyto-chemicals, thus boosting the nutritional profile of a soldier’s diet.