2011 batch IAS officer and District Collector of Bikaner Bhagwati Prasad Kalal has taken many initiatives to empower women. Under his leadership, Rajasthan’s first ‘Moringa Processing Unit’ has been established by the women of Rajivika’s self-help group.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched the products of the state’s first ‘Moringa Processing Unit’ during the Sakhi Sammelan organized in Jaipur on 18 August. The Chief Minister described Moringa as an important step in the direction of women empowerment.
Under the ‘Indira Gandhi Mahila Shakti Udyam Protsahan Yojana’, this unit has been set up at Bithnok at a cost of Rs. 60 lakh.
Mr. Kalal said that drumstick is considered a superfood. Many types of nutrients are found in it and it is helpful in curing 300 types of diseases. According to a scientific research, it contains 17 times more calcium than milk, 15 times more potassium than banana, 10 times more vitamins than carrots, 25 times more iron than spinach and 9 times more protein than curd. It is very beneficial for diabetes and blood pressure patients.
In view of all these features, drumstick plants are being planted in the nutrition gardens of Anganwadi centers in the district. Drumstick plants are also being distributed on the birth of a girl child under Shakti Abhiyan. At the same time, drumstick plants are also being planted on priority in the pastures, so that there is awareness among the common people about the use of drumstick.
Along with this, an action plan was prepared for making value added products from drumstick plant and marketing them. Under this, Rajivika’s ‘Shri Balaji Rajivika Mahila Sarvangeen Vikas Sahakari Samiti Limited, Bethnok’ was selected for this processing unit.
The District Collector said that the women of the SHG were taken on an exposure visit to Anand district of Gujarat from 11 to 13 November by the Swara Nutra Food Groups. These women were given the information about moringa pods and moringa powder from leaves, protein powder, moringa green tea, making moringa soup, moringa bath soap, gel, candy and chocolate, etc.
Along with this, training was also given by Swara Group to plant drumstick and operate the processing unit. For this, an MoU was signed between the two.
Drumstick plants were planted in the pasture land of Kolayat by the district administration. The building of Bithanok Gram Panchayat was made available to the group for setting up the processing unit. Through the Chief Minister’s Innovation Fund, a tube well was dug on the pasture land at a cost of Rs. 15 lakh, due to which there was no shortage of water.
The Chief Minister launched the products produced in the plant on Friday. Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Nitya K. informed that these products will be manufactured by the group under the name of Bikana Rajivika Food Products. Apart from various stalls, the products will also be sold through online platforms like Amazon and India Mart.
The District Collector said that with this effort, the livelihood of three thousand families associated with the committee will increase. On the other hand, drumstick leaves and pods will be available through the plants grown in the pastures.
He further said that gram panchayats will also be able to make additional income by planting drumstick plants.
