Archive · 20 Jul 2026
IAS Officer Revives Forgotten Food, Boosts Local Women
In Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, a forgotten food called sattu, which is made from roasted gram flour, was brought back to life by an IAS officer named Aojasvi Raj.
Sattu is a superfood that is rich in protein.
The officer encouraged local farmers to grow more gram and helped over 700 women from self-help groups to make and sell sattu.
The women took care of everything from roasting the gram to packaging the final product.
They even gave sattu a modern makeover with nice packaging and new flavors.
This made sattu popular not just in Ballia but also in other parts of India.
The project has helped farmers and women earn more money and has made Ballia famous for its sattu.
The district even got special recognition for its sattu.
Now, the plan is to make even more products like protein bars and powder to sell sattu in new ways.
IAS officer Aojasvi Raj revived sattu, a forgotten protein-rich superfood, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
Over 700 women from self-help groups were involved in producing and packaging sattu.
Sattu was modernized with attractive packaging and new flavors, making it popular beyond Ballia.
The revival led to a doubling of gram cultivation and created businesses worth crores of rupees.
Ballia's sattu received One District One Product (ODOP) recognition and is now sold on platforms like Amazon and Blinkit.
- Who
- IAS officer Aojasvi Raj and 700+ women from self-help groups
- What
- Revival of sattu (roasted gram flour) as a protein-rich superfood
- When
- Within two years of the initiative
- Where
- Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Why
- To revive a forgotten local tradition, create livelihoods, and boost the local economy
Traditionalists
Modernists
Preservation of Tradition
Traditionalists
The revival of sattu preserves Ballia's cultural heritage and traditional practices.
Modernists
Modernizing sattu with new packaging and flavors makes it more appealing to a broader market.
Economic Impact
Traditionalists
Reviving sattu supports local farmers and women's self-help groups, providing sustainable livelihoods.
Modernists
Expanding into value-added products like protein bars and powder can attract more investment and create new job opportunities.
- Location
- Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Key Figure
- IAS officer Aojasvi Raj
- Product
- Sattu (roasted gram flour)
- Involved Parties
- 700+ women from self-help groups
- Market Reach
- Available on Amazon and Blinkit
- Recognition
- One District One Product (ODOP)
- Economic Impact
- Businesses worth crores of rupees