A dimension within Forest Foods & Public Distribution
Celebrates the availability and use of seasonal forest fruits and local produce in school food.
150 voices speak to this
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Positive
Overall Community Sentiment
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.

By cherishing and utilizing the traditional foods and herbs found in our forests and lands, we can sustain ourselves and combat malnutrition while preserving our natural heritage.

By integrating diverse farming practices with deep knowledge of local forest foods, we ensure our community's sustenance and future well-being.

Community members in Kandhamal utilize government loans to trade in indigenous forest products, strengthening their local economy.

We ensure our children's well-being and cultural continuity by teaching them about the forest's bounty and the richness of our ancestral language and traditions.
Fruits found in the forest such as Jamun, Custard Apple, Mahua, Chawar, etc., should be added to the Midday Meal.
— Gopal
We can give fruits found in the forest like :- Tendu, Char, Aonla in our lunch.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
From the forest, we collect ruguda mushrooms, mudhi saag, kuiler saag, girel flowers, bhindua kadi, and so on. If all these are nutritious foods for us, they should be included in the midday meal.
— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha
The government should add seasonal fruits like Jamun, mango, ber, katola vegetable, Vegri Doda vegetable, indigenous mushrooms, bael fruit, mahua kheer, Kalthiya ki ghugri, kodo, batti, bhadi (little millet), etc., to forest food items in PDS and MDM.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Forest produce fruits found in the forest like Kendu, Char, and Mahula contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in students' mid-day meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in the mid-day meals of students.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha
The forest contains nutritious foods like Pitalu, Baya, Tunga, Water Yam, Elephant Foot Yam, Bitter Ginari greens, Putukuli, Honey, Amla, Bahada, and Kendu. The government should consider adding some of these to the PDS (Public Distribution System).
— Prasanna Pradhan · Mayurbhanj, Odisha
Seasonal fruits like guava, black plum, mango, jujube, tamarind, Mahua flower, Kodo millet, Little millet, Kulthi ghugri etc. should be added in forest food products, PDS and MDM.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Forest-produced fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahula, found in the forest, contain a large amount of nutritious food. It would be excellent to include these in students' midday meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, are rich in nutrition. It would be beneficial to include them in students' midday meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
In the forest, many fruits like Kendu, Chahar, Dumir, Kudu, and Khajur are available. It is absolutely necessary to use these for the midday meal.
— Parikshit Majhi
To include forest-based foods like Mahua ladoo, Char ladoo, Phuljhi, etc., in PDS and midday meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
In our forest, mushrooms, ruguda, karadi, and giril flowers are found. These should be served in mid-day meals at PDS schools.
— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha
If forest foods like Char, Mahua, Kendu, Mango, and Jam are added to PDS and mid-day meals, consumers will get nutritious food.
— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha
Nutritious diet from the forest: seasonal fruits, jamun, mahua, mango, charoli, jaggery, peanuts, and Shegaon vegetables.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Mahua flowers and other foods obtained from the forest are very nutritious. Therefore, it is appropriate to include these foods in PDS or mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
It would be good if all the nutritious foods found in the forest such as Lepherasā, Kachar sāg, Gukurijīv sāg, Kaḍī, Heḍuā, Chhati, Ruguḍā are added to the Mid-Day Meal PDS.
— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha
In our forest, fruits, roots, leaves, flowers, and leafy vegetables grow naturally. There are no chemicals in them, and they are completely nutritious. It would be good to serve them for lunch.
— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha
Include forest-based food items such as Mahua laddoo, Chaar laddoo, Fuljhi, etc., in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
We get our nutritious diet from the forest, such as Mahua fruit Doli oil in the form of fat, Kodo, Bhaddi, Kulthia, Mahua flowers, Jamun, Mahua kheer, Bhaji, etc.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Seasonal fruits like Char, Kendu, Khajuri, Pitalukanda, Kurlukanda, Jharkurlu, Mamershag, Lepershag, and various types of chemical-free mushrooms are found in the forest. It would be good if the government encourages these products.
— Paradeshi Mirdha · Katarbaga, Sambalpur, Odisha
Amla, Chironji, Tendu, Mukaiya - these are wild food items that should be included in the midday meal.
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
It would be good if the government provides forest foods like honey, Chaar, and Kendu as food in the midday meal.
— Priti majhi
It would be good if the government provides forest foods like Mahua, Chhar, and Kendu as food in the MDM (Mid-Day Meal scheme).
— Priti majhi
Seasonal fruits should be added to the Midday Meal. Such as wild bananas, custard apples, etc.
— Gopal
The aquatic plants, tubers, mushrooms, and all other forest products found in the forest are nutritious food. Therefore, if we can add this food to PDS and school mid-day meals, it would be very good.
— Sushama Digal · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha
From the forest, we get leafy vegetables, tubers, mushrooms, and fruits. All these kinds of things are available.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
Forest-found fruits Hara, Mukaiya, Tendu, Char to be added in PDS.
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Kasdol, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
In our forests, various edible fruits and flowers like Chhode ki Bhanji, Patari, Peepar, Katto, Laheren, Kotwal, Bhanji, Fisdi, Gadsukhadi, Banspihari, and many others are found.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Using all the fruits, flowers, leaves, greens, and root vegetables obtained from nature's forests in lunch can provide more nutritious food.
— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha
Fruits obtained from the forest are also important for the physical and mental development of children and for providing nutrition; the government should include them as traditional food items in school mid-day meals.
— Anil Pargi · Maliya Dokar, Banswara, Rajasthan
Nutritious food found in the forest: Mudhi saga, Chhati saga, Bhadbhadia saga, Koila saga, Munga saga, Ghumi saga, Tartha saga.
— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, Odisha
In the forest, there are many types of food, such as various nutritious tubers (kandha), which can be given during midday meals in schools and also protect against various diseases.
— Deepanjali Nayak
If the government provides forest food like honey and some other forest produce as part of the midday meal, it would be good.
— Priti majhi
Amla pickle should be included in mid-day meals among local forest food items, and traditional produce like Kodo, Kutki, maize, and pulses like Kurthi, Moong, Chana, and Rahar should be included in PDS.
— Rupesh Maravi
It would be beneficial if forest fruits, roots, Char, Dumer, and Kuddu fruits are given to school children as part of the midday meals provided in schools. Whatever term applies.
— Parikshit Majhi · Balangir, Odisha
You yourself were telling me that tendu, custard apple, and other items found in the forest, which should be included in this meal through government efforts, and...
— Anil Pargi · Cheekhli, Dungarpur, Rajasthan
For the midday meal, some 'maudia' (puffed rice snacks) and other light items should be provided. In addition to that, various greens found from the forest, such as drumstick leaves and 'kule' (another type of edible green), should also be given.
— Ulapi Sahu · Balangir, Odisha
We get various greens and various fruits from the forest.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
Including food items like mahua ladoo made from mahua found in our forests in the school's midday meal can provide nutritious food to children.
— Anjana Khadia · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.

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