In the city where protein shakes and diet charts are topping the list for a healthy lifestyle, rural entrepreneur T Sridevi’s nutrition supplements are catching people’s eye. She is in dire need of funds to get a renewal of her licence and also come up with a centre to educate her.
Tokala Sridevi hails from Nizamabad and it was in 2006 when her husband gave Rs 40 to run the family for a month as he left to perform puja. Then an idea struk her that she can buy the ingredients of her mother’s kitchen, who served many with nutritional value.
“I prepared dough with rice, sorghum (sathi pindi) and packed them in sachets with a message, then gave it to one of the fruit vendors to give these packets to individuals who are buying her fruits.”
Ponna Ramulu from National Institute of Nutrition came to me from whom I learnt most of the other traditional millet recipes. While participating in many such Central initiatives, I could talk to create awareness, she added.
“Government is now in coordination with me to provide an opportunity through Telangana State Innovation Cell to establish a service to train people on how to make these foods. They have trained me in Nutrihub and promised me a grant of Rs 5 lakh. My efforts are also in the same line. I want to teach people and charge minimum cost because people come back to me to learn and not to order the food,” she said.
The lady knows how to make nutritious food for children, sports, handicapped, lactating women and for girls who go through severe pain during periods.
For instance the population earning livelihood with daily wages can be explained that if they fry corn (makka), mung bean (pesarlu) , grind them into powder, mix it with milk and serve it to the lactating women. Then for sportspersons, grind urad bean with sorghum and mix almonds, jaggery and dates.
These recipes must be explained to the corporate people who run behind gyms and hospitals for health issues.
“We may not have lab testing but people found them helpful. Until 2017, the food inspector would visit me to give the licence, but later I could not afford the expenses for the renewal certificate.”
