On 29th Jan, 2023, PM Modi, in his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ spoke about ‘Millets Café’ which was started at Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, in May, 2022.
This café is unique as its menu has dishes made of Millets only.
Millets Café, was conceptualized by then collector of Raigarh, Mr. Bhim Singh and developed by the 2018-batch IAS officer & CEO of Raigarh District Panchayat, Mr. Abinash Mishra.
"Our aim is to promote millets and local cuisine besides supporting women self-employment and entrepreneurship," Mr. Abinash said.
This cafe has the distinction of being the first millet cafe in the state, whose operation is run by a group of 10 women.
The menu reads like – millets cheela, millet dosa, millet momos, millet pizza, millets Manchurian, pasta, idli, millet manchurian and kodo biryani etc.
The restaurant is owned by Vikas Mahila Kshetra Sangh, a national urban livelihood mission self-help group organization. Most of the millets used in this café are produced in Raigarh itself.
Coarse grain crops like Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Sawan, Kodo, Kutki and Kuttu are called millet crops. Millets are called super food because they contain relatively high amount of nutrients.
According to the Millets Research Institute of India, finger millet is rich in calcium. The amount of iron in ragi is also more than that of wheat and rice. For many generations, millets were regular part of diet. These grains are rich in many nutrients essential for health.