PGIMER celebrates “Youth parliament on Millets 2023”

Chandigarh, April 30, 2023: Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh and Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, Chandigarh, Administration jointly organized “Youth Parliament on Millets 2023” today at Advanced Cardiac Center, PGIMER. The event was organised under the aegis of the recently launched “Chandigarh Millet Mission”.

During the inaugural session Dr. Poonam Khanna (Associate Professor of Nutrition, DCM & SPH, PGIMER) briefed about the existing policies on millets and why there is need for inclusion of millets to new and existing policies. Savitesh Kushwaha, Ph.D. Research Scholar, elaborated role of youth parliaments in encouraging the interest of Youth in policy making. Chief guest Prof Arun Kumar Aggarwal, Professor and Head, DCM & SPH, PGIMER praised the effort of the team for organizing this one of a kind invite and he stressed that such events should be organized on other public health topics as well.

Surinder Verma, Chairman of Citizen Awareness Group, termed this event as full of awareness and knowledge and told the need of today’s time to include millet in the daily diet, which should be done as a priority.

Dr. Rachana Srivastava (Program Officer, DCM & SPH, PGIMER) summarized that preliminary workshops were conducted to simulate students and google meet sessions were organized with subject experts to support students in drafting of the bill. Celebrity Chef Vikas Chawla, Founder Core Hospitality delivered a talk on how to include millets in daily diet and he is coming up with a Recipe book on Millets which can be easily used by all.

Uttam (General Manager, Verka) discussed that millets were an important component of our traditional diet. The parliament session was chaired by Dr Puneet Khanduja (Sr Lead Nutrition) who initiated the session with the pledge of parliamentarians. Students from different colleges representing different ministries presented their draft bills in the house and opposition (students) asked questions regarding the provision and operations associated with bills. At the end of the parliament session recommendations were submitted to the organizing chairperson.

Vote of Thanks was delivered by Sarita Godwani, Consultant Poshan Abhiyan, Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development. Chandigarh Administration. The event was sponsored by Munchh on, Joyline Hygiene, The Smile Designers, Core Hospitality Solutions and Verka.