Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's to Australia the Rajasthani Kutumbh of Victoria (RAJKOV) and Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) have partnered with the Government of India to launch a comprehensive awareness campaign in Sydney on May 23, 2023.

The campaign will support the Prime minister's vision on Millets by raising awareness on the nutritional value of the small-seeded grasses and their incorporation in daily diets. "Millets, a group of highly nutritious grains, have long been an integral part of traditional diets in many regions of the world. However, their potential remains largely untapped, and this campaign aims to change that," a news release noted.

The virtual campaign launch was attended by V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for external affairs, Govt of India, who unveiled the official poster. Prem Bhandari, president of RANA and Ravi Sharma, president of RAJKOV along with members of the Rajsthani community in both countries were present on the occasion.

Lauding the joint initiative by the organisations, the Minister said that the awareness campaign while increasing knowledge about the nutritional benefits of millets, promoting their cultivation and consumption, will also support local farmers who grow these crops.

Bhandari who has been instrumental in the globalisation of the millets awareness campaign shared his achievements during the event. They included launching an all millets meal in collaboration with the head chef of New York-based restaurant SAAR, working with Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Chief Coordinator for India's G20 Presidency in 2023 to organize the Jodhpur Millets Festival, among others.

Speaking of the reach of the campaign, Sharma highlighted that by collaborating with international organizations, the campaign will leverage the collective expertise, resources, and networks to reach a wider audience and create a greater impact. "It aims to engage governments, research institutions, non-profit organizations, and consumers across the globe to promote the sustainable production and consumption of millets," he added.