Minister for Rural Development Prahlad Patel has underlined the need to return to original roots saying that it is a joint responsibility to give back to the society and the mother Nature what we received. We need to learn respecting the natural resources and human labour. Patel was addressing a one-day discussion on "Flourishing Rural Madhya Pradesh" organized at the initiative of Transforming Rural India (TRI) at MANIT here today.
Patel noted that there is increasing organic pressure on livelihood resources and natural resources. He mentioned that it is urgent to be extremely conscious about water, which is a life-sustaining element. To save lives, it is essential to save water. Instead of focusing on recycling, we need to promote its reutilisation.
Patel said that women entrepreneurs associated with self-help groups are involved in millet production and the preparation of millet-based food products. He pointed out the need to focus on the social security of womens' self-help groups. He appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting millets as "Anna", marketing its use worldwide. Millets are health improving, eliminating hunger, and contributing produce to economic prosperity. Patel said that there are significant opportunities for food processing in Madhya Pradesh. He noted that food habits change at a distance of every 50 to 100 kilometers in India, which creates possibilities for establishing food processing units. He also emphasized that needs of human society are increasing putting tremendous pressure on resources.
KK Shukla, Director of Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal, TRI State Lead Aliva Das, Senior Coordinator Rajesh Singh, and Senior Consultant TRI Shehzad Khan were present.
