Indian Business & Professionals Council (IBPC) Qatar and MES Indian School jointly organised an awareness programme for students at the school campus recently as part of the International Year of Millets 2023 (IYOM 2023).
IBPC president Jaffer Us Sadik spoke about the importance of millets, the first domesticated cereal grains, which were most likely cultivated in Asia more than 4,000 years ago.
Millets rank as the sixth most important cereal grains in the world today, sustaining more than one-third of the world’s population.
Renitha Richard, chief nutritionist at Allevia Medical Center, educated the students about millets as 'Nutri-cereals' due to their high nutritional value and a valuable source of energy, proteins, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Millets are also gluten-free and a great option for those who are intolerant to wheat and other grains.
Millets are rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. They are easy to digest and can help improve digestive health. Millets are a great choice for weight management, as they are low in calories, yet they provide a feeling of fullness. Millets are also high in minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc, which are essential for healthy bones and teeth. Consuming millet can also help to reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease, she added.
Mohammed Ilias of MES appreciated the the initiative to spread awareness on millets and encouraged his students on the benefits of these “tiny grains” that pack a big nutritional punch and urged the students to include millet in their daily diets. School teachers Jency George (Campus Care Force), Sneha Ramachandran Pillai, Sibby Shaji John, Bitty Varghese, Rema Devi, Rajesh K.S (Scouts and Guides) and Fency Patrose (Cubs in-charge) were the MES event co-ordinators. More information about IYOM2023 is available on ibpcqatar.com
