Millet cafés set to debut in Telangana, create livelihood opportunities for SHG women | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: As Telangana pushes both nutrition security and women’s economic empowerment, the govt is setting up a network of millet cafés to bring traditional grains back to the dining table while creating entrepreneurship opportunities for women from self-help groups (SHGs).The govt, through the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), is establishing millet cafés across the state to promote healthy eating habits and generate sustainable livelihoods for women SHGs.SERP entered into MoUs with the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) for the establishment of five millet cafés in the first phase at a cost of ₹2.2 crore. The outlets are being set up at BRKR Bhavan, MCRHRD campus and Indira Mahila Shakti Bazaar in Hyderabad, besides Yadagirigutta and Mahbubnagar. Construction work at the BRKR Bhavan, MCRHRD campus and Mahila Shakti Bazaar locations is nearing completion.Women development and panchayat raj minister D Anasuya Seethakka said the initiative seeks to revive millet consumption, particularly among younger generations, while enabling rural women to achieve financial independence through entrepreneurship.The cafés are being developed as dedicated outlets serving a range of traditional and contemporary foods made from nutrient-rich millets such as jowar, bajra, ragi and foxtail millet. The govt aims to restore these traditional grains to everyday diets by offering them in formats that appeal to modern tastes and lifestyles.“Millets, which were once an important part of the food habits of previous generations, have gradually disappeared from the diets of many people, particularly in urban areas. Through these cafés, SERP aims to create awareness about their nutritional value and encourage people, especially youngsters, to adopt healthier eating habits,” said an official.The outlets will offer a diverse menu of millet-based foods, including millet cakes, biscuits, rotis, murukulus, pulihora, ragi sankati, ragi java, millet upma and millet khichdi. By blending traditional recipes with contemporary food offerings, the initiative seeks to make millet-based diets both appealing and accessible to a wider consumer base.Officials said women’s economic empowerment is a key pillar of the programme. SERP, which works with rural women from economically weaker sections, is encouraging self-help groups to tap business opportunities in the food and beverage sector.Women’s groups will manage the cafés and oversee activities ranging from food preparation and product presentation to sales, customer service and overall operations.As part of the capacity-building programme, IIMR has already trained 40 women in the first phase.