Odisha government directs colleges to reduce cooking oil use

The Odisha government has issued a directive to all government and non-government aided colleges to reduce cooking oil consumption in canteens. The order instructs institutions to avoid serving high-oil breakfast items such as puris, vadas, and bondas.

According to Ramesh Chandra Behera, Deputy Secretary of the Higher Education Department, the move responds to global supply chain disruptions and economic crises stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and recent tensions in Iran. These factors have impacted the availability and cost of food, fuel, and fertilizer.

The directive encourages the use of traditional oils like ghee, mustard oil, and groundnut oil instead of imported palm, sunflower, or soybean oils. Additionally, the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Youth Red Cross (YRC) have been asked to organize community awareness programs regarding the reduction of oil in daily household cooking.