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

The Odisha government has instructed colleges to cut down on cooking oil and minimize deep-fried foods in an effort to reduce the financial strain during global supply chain disruptions. In a letter to college principals, the higher education department requested the implementation of measures to decrease oil usage in student meals.

These guidelines include cutting back on high-oil dishes such as puris, vadas, and bondas for breakfast, balancing nutrition while reducing deep-fried foods, and favoring traditional oils like ghee, mustard oil, and groundnut oil over imported alternatives like palm, sunflower, and soyabean oil. The directive comes amid ongoing global supply chain issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, and recent tensions in Iran, which have all contributed to fuel shortages and heightened food, fertilizer, and fuel scarcity.

This follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier plea for Indians to reduce cooking oil consumption by 10% to improve public health and lower the nation's dependence on imports. The letter further emphasized promoting healthier eating habits among students and youths. Given that India is also grappling with the effects of the crisis, the authorities urged college authorities to engage volunteers from the National Service Scheme and Youth Red Cross in organizing awareness programs on minimizing oil consumption.

With over 1,000 government colleges and a student population of 2.87 lakh, Odisha is significantly affected by these changes.