Millet Mission Odisha wins two SKOCH Awards

The Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas (Millet Mission Odisha) has won the SKOCH Award 2017 - Silver, and the SKOCH Order-of-Merit. These were conferred at the 50th SKOCH summit held at Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, 20-21 December 2017.

Millet Mission Delegates with SKOCH Order-of-Merit Award at Constitution Club of India, 20 December 2017.
Left to Right: Ms Diptimayee Jena, Dr Chitta Ranjan Das, Mr Pankaj Kumar, Mr Rameswar Mirdha, Prof Srijit Mishra, Mr Sadananda Majhi, Mr Ramani Ranjan Nayak, Ms Rashmi Rekha Samal.

The SKOCH Order-of-Merit was conferred to the Millet Mission Odisha for being among the top 30 Transformational Innovation Projects in India. From among these, Millet Mission Odisha was selected and conferred the SKOCH Award 2017 - Silver at the concluding session of the 50th SKOCH summit. The selection for these awards went through a rigorous process: scrutiny of application, jury evaluation based on presentation, on-line voting, and experts opinion plus delegates voting at the Summit.

SKOCH Award 2017 - Silver conferred to Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas being received by Prof Srijit Mishra, Director, NCDS on 21 December 2017, Mavlankar Sabhagrih, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.
Left to Right: Mrs. Manisha Kochhar, Mrs Pratibha Phatak, Dr Gursharan Dhanjal, Dr. DB Phatak, Mr. NK singh,
Mr. Sameer Kochhar, Dr. M Ramachandran, Prof.Srijit Mishra, Prof. VN Alok, Mr. Rohan Kochhar, Mr. Nirmal Bansal.

The innovation for the Programme lies in the institutional architecture where Government of Odisha (through Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment under the aegis of Planning and Convergence Department), Civil Society (led by Watershed Support Services Network (WASSAN) as Programme Secretariat) and Academia (Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS) as State Secretariat) have come together to complement and supplement each other for a people-centric initiative to facilitate nutrition security and address climate resilience.

In this endeavour, Government, Civil Society and Academia have come together from day one starting from conception, to planning, to preparing guidelines, to implementation. The institutional architecture has been designed to draw upon the advantages of each entity, but also by providing space for flexibility that is required for a collective endeavour and to address emerging concerns.

To address the demand versus supply mismatch (or Chicken-Egg paradox), a framework with concurrent emphasis on production, consumption, processing, and marketing has been designed

The implementation of the programme brings together science and tradition. The knowledge of improved agronomic practices (line transplantation and system of root intensification) and use of suitable equipment (for instance, weeder) was superimposed on the understanding of local biodiversity and existing agricultural practices.

In its first year of implementation (Khari 2017), the programme is operational in 28 blocks across seven districts (Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada, and Rayagada) and  Millet production has been taken up in 7,444 acres by 13,457 farmers. The Project Director, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (PD, ATMA) is the nodal agency at the district level who along with the Programme Secretariat work at each block with the Facilitating Agencies (FAs) to implement the programme through the Community Based Organisations (CBOs). The crop cutting experiments have been promising with yield measured at 4-8 quintals/acre for line transplantation and at 6.5 to 14 quintals/acre for system of root intensification. The Government of Odisha is planning to extend the programme to 27 additional blocks in Kharif 2018.

Initiatives are being taken for pilot inclusion of millets in State Nutrition Programmes (SNPs - Anganwadi's, Mid-day Meals and Ashram Schools) and linking them to the Public Distribution System (PDS). An urban internship has been launched to spread knowledge on the health benefits, create awareness on contemporary as also traditional recipes, and provide a market for the produce.

Millet Mission Odisha will be an important partner in the initiative on National Nutrition Mission and in spirit is with the Government of India's call to the United Nations to make 2018 as the International Year of Millets.

The application for consideration of SKOCH Innovation Award 2017 was submitted by NCDS the State Secretariat for the Mission. The Director of NCDS, Professor Srijit Mishra who is also spearheading the activities of the State Secretariat had made the presentation for jury evaluation in November 2017. He has received the two awards at the 50th SKOCH summit on behalf of all the stakeholders of Millet Mission Odisha.

See two earlier related blogs

Millet Mission at 50th SKOCH summit

Millet Mission Nominated for SKOCH Award

Millet Mission at 50th SKOCH summit

The Millet Mission Odisha (Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas) has won the SKOCH Order-of-Merit, which will be conferred during the 50th SKOCH summit being held at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, during 20-21 December 2017. This was based on Jury evaluation from a presentation (also see SlideShare and video from 24 minutes onwards).  The Mission is also in the race for SKOCH Award 2017, which is also dependent on the delegate votes. Hence, this is a request to delegates at the summit on why you should at least visit our booth (#24) and be a part of the millet mission.

• The programme is based on an Institutional Architecture that brought together three pillars of progress - Government, Civil Society and Academia for a people-centric initiative to facilitate nutrition security and climate resilience.
• It will be an important partner in the Government of India's call to UN to make 2018 as the International Year of Millets and in the initiative on National Nutrition Mission. 
• To address the demand versus supply mismatch (or Chicken-Egg paradox), a framework with concurrent emphasis on  production, consumption, processing, and marketing has been designed.
• It brought together science and tradition. The knowledge of improved agronomic practices and use of suitable equipment was superimposed on the understanding of local biodiversity and existing agricultural practices to facilitate climate resilient agriculture that is sustainable.
• Initiatives are being taken for pilot inclusion of millets in State Nutrition Programmes (SNPs)  and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• There is scope to scale these initiatives both within and outside the state and also to converge it with other agricultural schemes.
• Its urban internship is meant to spread knowledge on the health benefits, create awareness on contemporary as also traditional recipes, and provide a market for the produce.

The Millet Mission initiative also resonates in spirit with most of the Jai Hind Keynote lectures of the 50th SKOCH summit. To wit:

• Millet Mission will facilitate 'Naya Grameen Bharat' being envisaged by Narendra Singh Tomar, Honourable Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and Mines.
• It will transform tribal areas, similar to the story of 'Transforming Madhya Pradesh' by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Honourable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
• It does combine science and technology to facilitate new agronomic practices and in that sense is also about 'Transformational Technological Changes for India 2030' by YS Chowdary, Honourable Minister of State for Science and Technology.
• It is about climate-resilient sustainable agriculture along with a new institutional architecture to facilitate governance and hence does echo 'Sustainable Development and Indian Economic Governance' by Ashok Chawla, Chairman, TERI.
• Being a pro-people agricultural intervention, it also echoes the sentiments of 'Agricultural Growth and Poverty Elimination' by Ashok Gulati, Infosys Chair Professor, ICRIER.
• Focusing on interventions that are knowledge-intensive, it is also about 'Enhancing Indian Investments' by Suresh Prabhu, Hounourable Union Minister for Commerce and Industry.
• With a focus on marginalised population, it will have some lessons from below for 'A Macro Economic View for India for 2030' by Indira Rajaraman, Economist.
• Bringing together a host of civil society groups and volunteers working pro bono, it does reflect 'Legitimising Lobying and Advocacy' by Dilip Cherian, Founding Partner and Group Chairman, Perfect Relationsc.
• In enhancing of livelihood for tribal farmers the mission will also contribute to 'The Road to a $10 Trillion Economy' by Bibek Debroy, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
• Emphasis on capabilities of local population and small enterprises would be in sync with 'Job Generative Economic Agenda' by Bijayant Jay Panda, Honourable Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha.
• A programme that by design is inclusive does have an audience for 'Universal Basic Income' by Haseeb Drabu, Honourable Finance Minister, Jammu & Kashmir. 
• The proposed urban internship may draw on lessons from 'Urban Development India 2030' by M Ramachandran, Former Urban Swcretary and Distinguished Fellow, SKOCH Developmet Foundation.
• Protection of tribal livelihoods from unforeseen influences is akin to 'Protecting Virtual Borders' by Gulshan Rai, National Cyber Security Coordinator.
• Concern for people (or, economy) may get echoed in 'Monetary Policy and Fiscal Framework: The Route of India 2030' by Ashima Goyal, IGIDR and Part-time Member, Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister. 
• A people-centric policy initiative for the excluded cannot not be part of 'Political Economy: Requisites for New India' by Lord Meghnad Desai, Founder and Chairman, Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics.
• The need to engage with multiple stakeholders and an approach that acknowledges diversity in cropping patterns and agro-climatic conditions would in some tangential sense may benefit from the lessons from 'Multilateralism and India 2030' by Shaktikanta Das, G20, Sherpa, and Member, 15th Finance Commission.
• The plans to pay farmers through direct benefit transfer after validating practices through mobile apps would fit into 'A Digital Path to India 2030' by Pranjal Sharma, Member, Advisory Board, PACI, World Economic Forum.
• To go beyond urban and to bring in the excluded could be important concerns for 'FinTech Power India' by S Ganesh Kumar, Executive Director, RBI.
• Larger concern for the excluded, or as we say on scheduled crops for scheduled population may have important lessons for 'Fiscal Federalism and India 2030' by NK Singh, Chairman, 15th Finance Commission.

In summary, one may mention that the Millet Mission is a people-centric initiative involving Government, Civil Society and Academia for climate resilience and nutrition security. In doing so, it also gives us lessons on a host of other things that include inclusiveness, convergence, and governance among others. 

An earlier note on the Millet Mission that also discussed about challenges and the strategies to overcome these challenges is available here.

Millet Mission Odisha Nominated for Skoch Award

Kudos!

Millet Mission Odisha (Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas) has been nominated for Skoch Awards. In this connection, a presentation (see SlideShare, and video in Facebook from 24 minutes onwards) was made before the jury on 9th November 2017.  It is now open for popular voting through twitter and votes will be polled till 1700 hours of 18th November 2017.  You are requested to vote for your Millet Mission with ID_106.

Unique Features of the Mission

• The setting up of an Institutional Architecture that brought together three pillars of progress - Government (Krushibibhag and P&C Department, Odisha), Civil Society (WASSAN and a host of other partners) and Academia (NCDS, an ICSSR institute) from Day One.
• It addressed the Chicken-Egg paradox of who comes first by agreeing on a framework with concurrent emphasis on four verticals - production, consumption, processing, and marketing.
• It brought together science and tradition. The knowledge of improved agronomic practices and use of suitable equipment was superimposed on the understanding of local biodiversity and existing agricultural practices.
• Initiatives are being taken to pilot inclusion of millets in State Nutrition Programmes (SNPs) like Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), school Mid-Day-Meals (MDMs), and Ashram Schools and also for its procurement through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Challenges

• The concerns before the government was:
• to select credible Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as Civil Society partners to work as facilitating agencies at the block level, 
• to ensure replicability of the programme, and 
• to build ownership within the department.
• The concerns of Programme Secretariat, WASSAN, was 
• to address the delay in the signing of agreements with the facilitating agencies, 
• to ensure capacity building and orientation of community based organisations, 
• to facilitate timely release of funds, and 
• to conduct regular review.
• NCDS had to address the requirement of 
• real-time policy feedback, 
• exploring collaboration with others, and 
• developing a baseline.

Strategies

• The Government addressed the concerns by
• instituting a three-level selection process (evaluation of applications on pre-determined parameters, presentations before Officials under the Chairmanship of the Collector-cum-District Magistrate, and verification of claims through field visits),
• meticulous development of guidelines, and 
• regular involvement of senior bureaucrats and participatory orientation. 
• The Programme Secretariat addressed the challenges by
• active follow-up on a daily basis,
• involving the facilitating agencies in selection, orientation and capacity building of community based organisations,
• helping in the preparation of documents including the monthly participatory implementation plans, and
• working in close coordination wit the Department officials and ownership by the officials that facilitated regular review.  
• NCDS addressed its requirement by
• regular state/district level consultations and providing feedback through channels that are conventionally not considered academic,
• exploring collaboration with other academic bodies and networks, and
• developing a participatory baseline.

Scaleability and Replicability

The emphasis was given at the design stage to work out the details in the guidelines for implementation at the block, district and state level. Besides, the strengths of Government, Civil Society and Academia were identified to complement and supplement each other to facilitate nutritional security and climate resilience.

Response to the programme in its first year has been positive and the Government, in principle, has agreed to extend the scheme to another 25 blocks. Moreover, the design of the programme has been been such that the additional 25 blocks are now to be considered under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Independently, there are queries and/or talks with Governments in Rajasthan and Maharashtra as also Civil Society groups in Chattisgarh and Jharkhand, and also Government of India.

There are also plans to converge this programme with other programmes of Integrated Farming and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).    

Why you should vote?

This is one of the rare initiatives where Government, Civil Society and Academia have come together to address nutrition security and climate resilience. 

This is also a rare opportunity for an initiative from an ICSSR institute to be nominated. Thus, social scientist should feel that extra urge, but scientist should also see the merit because the proposed intervention for academia goes beyond social science.

The intervention is working through a convergence mode, both within and between, for all stakeholders. As such, it is possible that you also end up being a part of this initiative.

It is likely to bring in a sense of pride in you (perhaps because you appreciate this innovative initiative or you have some nostalgia with Millets or you empathise with traditional/sustainable agriculture  or you happen to be from Odisha or for something that is beyond all these), and hence, you need to support.

How you can vote?  

Voting is possible either through a twitter account or through your email. You may open a twitter account if you do not have one. To vote, follow the following steps:

• Go to the link at skoch.tk/voting. To register enter your name, agree to the Terms and Conditions and click on the Confirm button.
• Sign in using either your twitter account (use twitter user_id and password and allow Skoch access to your twitter account, you can remove the access at a later date) or email (first create and account by providing your email id, phone no and a password - note that this password need not be your email password).
• Signing-in will take you to Skoch 50th Summit Popular Vote. Scroll to the right and click on View Nominations.
• From the 157 nominations, scroll down to ID/Sl.No. 106 for the Special Programme for the Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas (or Millet Mission). Scroll to the right and click on the corresponding Vote.
• You have to vote before 17.00 hours of 18 November 2017

Do vote and do share this pro people initiative.