This refers to the article "Sugar shock" (BS Weekend, March 14). One solution for this malaise is more domestic consumption of raw sugar. Mills ask for export subsidies on raw sugar exports. Due to the lack of awareness, raw sugar is not consumed by more people, even though it is rich in natural iron, calcium and other nutrients. The sugar industry and the government should create more awareness on the health benefits of raw sugar. The industry should not link the production of raw sugar with export orders. There is an untapped domestic market for sugar.
The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) should launch an awareness campaign about the health benefits of raw sugar, on the lines of amla (gooseberry). Some sugar mills sell branded raw sugar - commonly known as golden sugar - and it is available in a few big supermarkets, not the usual mom-and-pop stores. If raw sugar is consumed instead of white sugar, ills such as the arrears of sugar mills to farmers, which run into thousands of crores, can be solved. The government need not dole out crores of rupees as subsidy to sugar cooperatives, which are run by politicians.
Deendayal M Lulla, Mumbai
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