The government is planning to cover 291 districts by March 2023 aspirational and heavy burden districts under the rice fortification programme. Under the Phase II of the ‘distribution of Fortified Rice through Public Distribution System (PDS)’, which began in April 2022, 90 LMT (Lakh Metric Tonnes) of fortified rice has already been produced.
Key Highlights
- The Phase II of the programme which includes Phase I plus TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System) and OWS (Other Welfare Schemes) in all Aspirational and High Burden Districts, a total of 291 districts, will be covered by March 2023.
- Under Phase I covered ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) and PM POSHAN in India all over by March, 2022 and nearly 17 Lakh MT of fortified rice was distributed.
- The FCI and State Agencies are engaged in procurement of fortified rice. Dr. Kapil Yadav (AIIMS) said that Food Fortification is a cost-effective Complementary Strategy to address multiple micronutrient deficiency.
- Dr. Yadav pointed that only 0.01% of population may face health risk due to consumption of fortified rice, particularly those ailing with Thalassemia Major.
- He added that fortified rice helps preventing Cretinism, Goiter, IIH (Thyrotoxicosis), Brain damage, improvement in Foetal & Neonatal Health and improvement in Productivity of Population. Therefore, the benefits of rice-fortification intervention far outweigh the risks involved.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) had accorded its approval for supply of fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman-PM POSHAN [erstwhile Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM)] and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) of Government of India in all States and Union Territories (UTs) by 2024 in a phased manner.
