Sundargarh: A steady rise is seen in the demand for traditional and healthy food among informed citizens. Husk lever pounded rice, referred to as ‘Dhinki Kuta Chaula’ in Odia, is one of the most preferred grains by connoisseurs. Responding to the trend, the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Sundargarh is incentivising women from local tribal communities to produce traditional husk lever pounded rice, or brown rice (whole grain rice) with an aim to enhance their income avenues.
The programme is part of the ‘Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram’ (VDVK) which aims at creating substantial livelihood opportunities for members of various tribal communities by using their traditional knowledge and expertise. Fiber-rich brown rice is sold at a premium in the market for its health benefits. ITDA is incentivising tribal women self-help groups (WSHGs) by providing them husk lever pounds, and weighing and packaging machines to promote the production of high-value brown rice. Eighteen VDVK units have been set up by ITDA Sundargarh in 9 blocks of the district. 300 women from 30 WSHGs each have been associated with every unit.
So far, 600 husk lever pounds have been distributed among 4 VDVK units, benefitting 1,200 women. It is worth mentioning that the red outer layer of lever-pounded rice is rich in nutrients like fiber, protein, and iron. It also helps maintain cholesterol levels in the body. “We are producing brown rice by using the husk lever pound given to us by ITDA under the VDVK programme. The produce is giving us good returns and helping us cover household bills and children’s education expenses,” said Chanchala Naik, a beneficiary from Sahebdera village under Lephripara block. The brown rice produced by VDVK members is weighed and packaged using machines before being dispatched for sale.
The nutrition-rich rice is fetching three times the price of mill rice available in the local market. A steady rise in the demand for brown rice has been witnessed due to its increasing preference by health-conscious citizens. “We have been given training by ITDA to produce brown rice from paddy using husk lever pound, and provided with machines required for weighing and packaging. We are getting good returns by selling the produce in the market and at fairs,” said Pushpa Majhi, another beneficiary. The proceeds from the sale of brown rice are not only helping tribal women in Sundargarh district become self-reliant, but the income is also helping them cover household expenses and children’s education, apart from maintaining decent savings in banks. ITDA Sundargarh has been helpful in uplifting the living standards of tribal women in the district through this programme.