Food Security & PDS

Local forest food is available. It should be included through PDS and in meals, and the government should promote it.

— Laxmanlal

The local forest foods most crucial for tackling severe malnutrition are Charo, Kendu, and Pitalukanda, which should be promoted by the government by providing them in PDS and midday meals.

— Pankajini Chhatria

The most nutritious locally available moong dal and urad dal should be included in PDS and mid-day meals.

— AbhiLL Ipsa

The government should add seasonal fruits like Jamun, mango, ber, katola vegetable, Vegri Doda vegetable, indigenous mushrooms, bael fruit, mahua kheer, Kalthiya ki ghugri, kodo, batti, bhadi (little millet), etc., to forest food items in PDS and MDM.

— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

It would be good if the government promoted these most nutritious forest foods like bananas, karadi, and kandhamula in PDS (Public Distribution System) and mid-day meals.

— anita khora · Sutipadar, Koraput, Odisha

If forest foods like Char, Mahua, Kendu, Mango, and Jam are added to PDS and mid-day meals, consumers will get nutritious food.

— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha

Nutritious food items like ragi should be introduced in mid-day meals and PDS.

— Sunil oraon · Gumla, Jharkhand

Mahua flowers and other foods obtained from the forest are very nutritious. Therefore, it is appropriate to include these foods in PDS or mid-day meals.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

Millet food should be included in PDS and mid-day meals.

— Tankeswar Kumar · Kalahandi, Odisha

Our traditional crops like Kodo, Kutki, maize, Rahar, Kurthi, chickpeas, and other pulses should also be given in schools and Anganwadi centers under the Midday Meal Scheme, and they should also be promoted by the government.

— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh

It would be good if all the nutritious foods found in the forest such as Lepherasā, Kachar sāg, Gukurijīv sāg, Kaḍī, Heḍuā, Chhati, Ruguḍā are added to the Mid-Day Meal PDS.

— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha

Yes, our local foods like Kodo, Kutki, and wheat porridge should also be included in the midday meal, and the government should also promote similar food items.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

Our traditional nutritious food like kodo, kutki, maize, sorghum, wheat, etc., as khichdi and dalia should be given in mid-day meals, and it would be great if the government also includes such grains in PDS.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

The forest contains nutritious foods like Pitalu, Baya, Tunga, Water Yam, Elephant Foot Yam, Bitter Ginari greens, Putukuli, Honey, Amla, Bahada, and Kendu. The government should consider adding some of these to the PDS (Public Distribution System).

— Prasanna Pradhan · Mayurbhanj, Odisha

Millet food should be included in PDS and midday meals.

— Tankeswar Kumar · Kalahandi, Odisha

Kodo, kutki, maize, and sorghum porridge, and also indigenous pulses, should be included in the midday meal, and it would be very good if the government promotes them.

— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh

Kodo, kutki, maize porridge, along with horse gram, moong, and rahat dal, should be given in mid-day meals and also included in the PDS.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

Fruits obtained from the forest are also important for the physical and mental development of children and for providing nutrition; the government should include them as traditional food items in school mid-day meals.

— Anil Pargi · Maliya Dokar, Banswara, Rajasthan

It would be good if the government provides forest foods like honey, Chaar, and Kendu as food in the midday meal.

— Priti majhi

Local forest produce such as Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, Sarala leaves, and Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, traditional foods like millet porridge should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, do not include packaged food and food from markets/shops to offer to guests.

— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha

Fruits found in the forest such as Jamun, Custard Apple, Mahua, Chawar, etc., should be added to the Midday Meal.

— Gopal

Now, not much food is available in the forest, but our community's traditional grains like Kodo Kutki khichdi, dalia, and Tur, Chana, and Masoor dals should be included in the PDS, and our children should also receive these in their midday meals.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

Local forest produce like Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, Mahula contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods from the forest should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

It would be good if the government provides forest foods like Mahua, Chhar, and Kendu as food in the MDM (Mid-Day Meal scheme).

— Priti majhi

Local forest produce like Kendu, Chaar, Jamukoli, and Mahul are rich in nutrients. Wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school midday meals to provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children. During festivals, we do not provide packaged food and market/shop items to guests.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

Millet should be included in PDS and mid-day meals.

— Tankeswar Kumar · Kalahandi, Odisha

Seasonal fruits like guava, black plum, mango, jujube, tamarind, Mahua flower, Kodo millet, Little millet, Kulthi ghugri etc. should be added in forest food products, PDS and MDM.

— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

Kodo kutki, maize, wheat, and kulthi and pigeon pea grown in our region should also be included in mid-day meals and PDS.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

It would be good if forest products like Mahula, Char, and Kendu were provided in mid-day meals through PDS.

— Priti majhi

Forest produce fruits found in the forest like Kendu, Char, and Mahula contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in students' mid-day meals.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

Our traditional crops like Kodo, Kutki, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Kangni, Rahar, and Kurthi should be included in mid-day meals and the PDS, and if the government also promotes them, it can definitely happen.

— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh

The government should include millet in PDS or mid-day meals.

— Kusha Mahakud

Local forest produce such as Kendu, Chaar, Jamu Kali, and Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.

— DASHARATH SINGH · Sambalpur, Odisha

It is necessary to provide forest-based food in the PDAS midday meal.

— Sarat suna