Indramani Tripathy, Director ST and SCSTRTI, ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department presided over the inaugural ceremony.

As part of the global celebration of the “International Year of Millets” in 2023, the SCSTRTI and the Odisha Millet Mission have collaborated to establish the “Millet Seed Display Unit” at the Odisha State Tribal Museum.

This initiative aims to create public awareness about the diverse millet landraces cultivated across the state. Currently, the unit is showcasing fifty different varieties of millets that are cultivated in various regions of Odisha.

There are fifty (50) millet landraces cultivated in different districts of Odisha are displayed in the “Millet Seed Display Unit”. The “Millet Seed Display Unit” at the Odisha State Tribal Museum stands as a testament to the efforts made to elevate the status of millets and their vital role in the overall well-being of the people and the culture of Odisha’s tribal communities. This initiative will not only create awareness among the visitors to the Museum on the different facets of this nutrient-rich grain.

In a remarkable effort to promote the significance of millets and their deep-rooted connection to the tribal communities, the SCSTRTI (Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Research and Training Institute), in collaboration with the Odisha Millet Mission, has unveiled a “Millet Seed Display Unit” at the Odisha State Tribal Museum (OSTM) in Bhubaneswar.

The “Millet Seed Display Unit” is intended to educate visitors about the diversity of millet landraces in Odisha and their numerous health and nutritional benefits. Some of the varieties featured in the exhibit include Finger Millet (Ragi), Little Millet, Foxtail Millet, KodoMillet, Sorghum or Jowar, and Pearl Millet or Bajra. Each of these grains has unique attributes, making them an essential component of a balanced and nutritious diet.

Tourism Minister Ashwini Kumar Patra flagged off the superbike rally, Kalinga Rides, near Hotel Sandy’s Tower in the capital city here.

Among others, twin city Police Commissioner Saumendra Priyadarshi, BMC Commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange and Additional Commissioner Suryawanshi Mayur were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Tourism Minister encouraged all stakeholders, including entrepreneurs and local communities, to join hands for promoting sustainable tourism. “Odisha is known not only for its natural beauty but also for the authenticity of its tourism experiences. Let us continue to work together to make Odisha a world-class destination under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The Odisha Tourism juggernaut has rolled and tourism sector is seeing a massive transformation in the state,” he said.

Tourism Director Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav said super bikers have been an integral part of the tourism ecosystem in Odisha. “The ‘Odisha by Road’ campaign was launched 3 years ago with the intention of welcoming more and more riders to the state. Super bikers have been an integral part of the tourism ecosystem in the state and they have been working tirelessly as ambassadors of Odisha Tourism,” said Jadhav.

At least 150 riders, under the banner of ‘Odisha Super Riders’, participated in the rally that concluded at Silver City Boat Club in Cuttack.

At the valedictory ceremony, the Tourism Director read out a special message sent by the Chief Minister to highlight the initiatives introduced by the state government to promote sustainable tourism in Odisha.

“Our flagship project, Eco-Retreat Odisha is a highly successful zero-waste glamping product that ensures tourists can explore nature’s beauty and engage in vivid experiences, in the most sustainable manner. The glamping event is organized every year at lesser-explored exotic destinations to promote local tourism and biodiversity,” said the Chief Minister in his message.

Participating in the event, Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab said, “The city of Cuttack is renowned for its rich history and heritage and is a major pivot in the tourism map of Odisha. I thank the Tourism department and OTDC for their efforts towards the holistic development of Tourism in the millennium city. Destinations like the redeveloped Silver City Boat Club and the ‘Byanjana’ Food Court and the water sports zone at Taladanda Canal front which have been recently inaugurated by the Chief Minister will serve as great avenues for recreational tourism for the residents of Silver City.”

Barabati-Cuttack MLA Md. Moquim, Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Sauvic Biswal, Cuttack Mayor Subhash Singh, Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Anil Samal, Cuttack Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani, OTDC Chairman Lenin Mohanty, Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana Advisor Durga Samantaray and Odisha Super Riders convener Devjyoti Patnaik were present on the occasion.

Members of the Odisha Super Riders community and winners of the Bloggers Contest 2023, organised by the Odisha Tourism, were felicitated on the occasion.

A six-day food festival, jointly organised by the Tourism department and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), was inaugurated at the Silver City Boat Club on the occasion.

To mark the occasion, a cultural event was also organised by the Tourism department at Bhanja Kala Mandap in the capital city here. Officials of the Tourism department staged play ‘Nistabdha Sahanai’ during the event.

The Cultural Evening was inaugurated by the Tourism Minister in presence of Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) Director Prasanna Pradhan, ASI Bhubaneswar superintending archaeologist Sushanta Kumar Kar and senior officials among others. The annual magazine of the Tourism department, ‘Paribrajaka’, was also released on the occasion.

The state government has been distributing 5 kgs of rice per person per month to the left-out eligible beneficiaries covered under the State scheme called ‘State Food Security Scheme at Re 1 per kg since October 2018. Now it will be free of cost.

These beneficiaries have also been provided with additional rice and pulses during the last 28 months of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation in the state. Besides, Rs 1,000 cash incentive was given to each family under National Food Security Act and State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) twice.