Loyola Academy hosts millet festival for women empowerment
HYDERABAD: Loyola Academy organised a Millet Festival for Women Empowerment on September 19–20, 2025, as part of its initiative “One Corporate – One College – One Village.” The event was held at the college campus in collaboration with its IQAC, E-Cell, PLANET, School of Agriculture, and the departments of Food Science, Nutrition & Dietetics, and Food Technology & Management.
Festival linked to Telangana’s women empowerment vision
The festival was a flagship event under the Indira Mahila Shakti Mission–2025, supported by government ministries, corporate partners, and academic collaborators. Its objective was to empower rural women from Adivasi, Dalit, and Backward Communities, and to encourage youth participation in rural development.
The event was inaugurated by cabinet minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, who holds the portfolios of Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Women and Child Welfare. She was joined by Malkajgiri MLA Marri Rajashekar Reddy, and Johnson Stanley, Director and CEO of Nutrihub at ICAR–IIMR, along with the management of Loyola Academy.
Minister calls for revival of millet diets
In her keynote address, Seethakka emphasised the values of hard work, perseverance and healthy living. She recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, tribal areas reported fewer cases, which she attributed to millet-based diets and traditional lifestyles. She urged students to respect elders, preserve cultural food traditions, and adopt healthy eating practices.
Rajashekar Reddy told students to cultivate good habits and apply classroom learning to real-life challenges. He described Seethakka’s journey as an inspiring example of determination.
Guest of honour Stanley commended the joint efforts of government, academia, and industry in promoting millets as a sustainable solution for nutrition security, climate resilience and women’s entrepreneurship.
Exhibitions, stalls and student engagement
The two-day event featured:
Promotion of millets: Stalls displayed millet-based products with a focus on women-led entrepreneurship.
Exhibitions and sales: Sessions highlighted health benefits, eco-friendly practices and sustainable farming.
Youth participation: Students took part in demonstrations and interactive programmes linking rural communities, corporates and institutions.
The festival drew inspiration from the International Year of Millets 2023 and was positioned as a prelude to the International Year of Women Farmers 2026.
Institutional and corporate support
The event was attended by Loyola Academy’s management, including Rector Rev Fr Ch Amararao SJ, Correspondent Rev Fr Dr A Francis Xavier SJ, Principal Rev Fr Dr N B Babu SJ, Vice Principals, Treasurer Rev Fr Sudhakar SJ, Controller of Examinations Rev Fr Dr M L Thomas, IQAC coordinator Dr K Rama and extension activities coordinator Dr A Bhavani. Vice Principals: Rev. Fr. Dr. A. M. Joseph Kumar SJ, Rev. Fr. M. Arul Jothi SJ, Rev. Fr. B. Peter SJ, Faculty students and millet entrepreneurs also took part.
Exhibition partners included Nutrihub, Milletsheff, Wassan and Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University.
Loyola Academy thanked all collaborators, participants and the media for supporting what it described as a milestone initiative that combines women’s empowerment, rural innovation and millet-based sustainable livelihoods.
