Jamshedpur Women’s University hosts seminar on “Nutrition for All” celebrating millets

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Sep 25: Jamshedpur Women’s University (JWU) and Manipal Tata Medical College jointly organized a one-day seminar under the theme “Nutrition for All,” focusing on the nutritional benefits of millets. This event was part of the International Millets Year 2023, aiming to promote awareness of these nutritious grains during Nutrition Month. The seminar commenced with an inauguration by Honourable Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Anjila Gupta, along with Professor Syed Ahmed, Department Head of Community Medicine, Professor Zarina Begum, Dr. Swati Shikha from Manipal Tata Medical College, and Dr. Sudhir Sahu, Research Director at JWU. The dignitaries lit the ceremonial lamp to mark the occasion.

Dr. Rama Subramaniam, Head of the Home Science Department, introduced the seminar’s topic, emphasizing the goal of spreading knowledge about millets’ nutritional advantages to various communities. In her address, Prof. Dr. Anjila Gupta highlighted the university’s commitment to participating in awareness programs of national importance, asserting that millets, as part of India’s traditional food heritage, could foster both economic and physical prosperity. Professor Syed Ahmed delivered a keynote message stressing the importance of disseminating knowledge about millets to wider communities and advocating for research on their benefits.

In the plenary session, Professor Zarina Begum elaborated on the nutritional significance of various millets, including ragi, jowar, bajra, and kutki, sharing insights into their ancient heritage and health benefits. During the technical session, Dr. Swati Shikha encouraged incorporating millets into daily diets and discussed how they are being integrated into community nutrition programs, highlighting potential government initiatives in this area. As part of the National Nutrition Week celebrations, the seminar featured various competitions, including a millet recipe contest, quiz, and extempore speaking competition under the theme “Nutrition for All.”

The award-winning students included Tina Tanti and Asifa Naaz in the Millets Recipe Competition, with Baby and Samaama taking second place and Aribaah and Sweta winning third. In the Extempore competition, Sweta secured the first position, followed by Adivaah in second place and Ekta and Baby in third. The Quiz competition was won by Vishnu Priya and her team. The event concluded with awards for the competition participants, emphasizing the importance of nutrition education within the community. Dr. D. Pushpalatha from the Home Science Department conducted the session, while Sanchita Guha from the CND Department delivered the vote of thanks. The seminar saw participation from numerous students from NSS, NCC, and various departments, reinforcing the event’s significance in promoting healthy eating habits.