World facing fuel shortage, cut deep fried foods: Odisha diktat to colleges

The Odisha government has instructed its colleges to cut down on oil usage and avoid deep-fried foods in hostels and canteens to reduce the economic burden during global fuel and food shortages. The Higher Education Department issued a letter to principals of all government and government-aided colleges, advising them to minimize oil usage in student meals and opt for traditional oils like ghee, mustard, and groundnut over imported alternatives.

The letter also asked colleges to promote healthier eating habits among students and youths, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier appeal to reduce cooking oil consumption by 10%. The move aims to tackle supply chain disruptions and crisis caused by the COVID pandemic, Ukraine conflict, and Iran conflict, which have impacted global oil and food supplies.

With over 1,000 government colleges and a total student population of 2.87 lakh, Odisha is urging its college authorities to organize awareness programs on oil consumption reduction through volunteers from the National Service Scheme and the Youth Red Cross.