Assam Rifles champions millet awareness with exhibition in Shillong

In an initiative to promote sustainable agriculture and nutritious food choices, Assam Rifles, under the ministry of home affairs, organised a millets exhibition at its Laitkor base recently.

- ABHIJIT DEB

The event, designed to highlight the immense potential of millets as a staple in contemporary diets, drew enthusiastic participation from Assam Rifles personnel, their families and members of the public.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, director general of Assam Rifles, who emphasised the importance of dietary diversity and the role of millets in ensuring food security.

A key highlight of the event was a lecture by Dr Khadar Valli, Padma Shri awardee and widely known as the "Millets Man of India".

He provided an in-depth perspective on the health benefits of incorporating millets into daily meals, explaining how they help combat lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular ailments.

His address underscored the need for a shift from heavily processed grains to indigenous, nutrient-rich alternatives like millets.

The exhibition featured an impressive lineup of stalls from government bodies, private enterprises and startups showcasing a wide array of millet-based products.