To address anemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country, Centre has expedited capacity of the fortification of rice to increase from 15,000 MT to 3.5 lakh MT by incentivising and creating awareness among rice millers.
- Government of India had approved a Sponsored Pilot Scheme on “Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System” for a period of 3 years beginning in 2019-20 with total outlay of Rs 174.64 Crore.
- Food Corporation of India started distributing Fortified Rice under ICDS/MDM from April, 2021.
- The Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on “Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System currently implemented in 6 States, – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh have started the distribution of fortified rice under pilot scheme.
- Fortification of rice is a cost-effective and complementary strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in diets and a step towards nutritional security and to fight anemia and malnutrition in the country.
