India is celebrating the International Year of Millets, 2023 with grandeur and along with this numerous initiatives and campaigns are being launched to increase the consumption of millet-based meals all over.

Adding to country's extensive initiatives, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is now planning to introduce healthy and nutritious millet-based dishes for UP railway stations including Lucknow and Kanpur districts. Intresting, right? Read on to know more about it!

Currently, the officials of IRCTC are engaged in discussions with the food unit vendors at various railway stations in Uttar Pradesh. The objective of these discussions is to encourage the vendors to incorporate healthy millet-based food items into their menus. A total of 78 units are being considered for this purpose.

In addition, the department will further work on the introduction of similar meal items in mobile units of railways, pantry cars and IRCTC restaurants in government buildings.

Reportedly, food items which are to be incorporated in the railways' menu will include healthy options such as millet laddoos, bajra, jowar, ragi-based breads and chapatis; millet kachori, millet khichdi, millet dalia, millet biscuits, ragi idli, ragi dosa and ragi uttapam, among others.

The Indian administration's initiatives for promoting millets include organizing millet food melas and exhibits, as well as spreading awareness about the health benefits and importance of consuming millet-based meals. These efforts are aligned with the United Nations General Assembly's declaration at its 75th session, which designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

Notably, through this initiative, IRCTC aims to provide healthier meal options to millions of passengers. The introduction of millet-based dishes on the menu will not only provide a variety of healthy meal options but will also promote the consumption of course grains among the masses.

-With inputs from IANS