The Millet Network of India (MINI), which has been promoting usage of millets, will soon begin a nation-wide campaign to bring pressure on law makers.
The MINI members would write letters to Members of Parliament and other people’s representatives in their respective geographies.
The MINI is an umbrella association of non-governmental organisations, agri-economists, scientists and intellectuals who are strongly pitching for promotion of millets and bring them back to the kitchens of India.
“The Public Distribution System is one of the most important affirmative action programs launched by the Government.
In 2010-11, more than 56 million tonnes (mt) of food grains (read rice and wheat) were procured and more than 52 mt was the off-take. This accounts for more than 25 per cent of the total food grain production,” a MINI draft, which will be despatched to the MPs, has said.
“One of the offshoots of the rice and wheat-driven PDS is that people have slowly stopped cultivating traditional landraces of foodgrains. This makes people completely dependent on markets and the centralised PDS for their food needs,” the network said.
kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in