The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the proposal to provide or distribute fortified rice in all government schemes including mid-day-mills and ration shops till 2024. Giving information about this, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that till now government agencies have already procured 88.65 lakh metric tonnes of fortified rice.
A total expenditure of Rs 4,270 crore is estimated to be implemented in the implementation of this scheme, which will be borne by the Center. According to the plan of the government, this scheme will be implemented in a phased manner in all the states and union territories of the country by the year 2024. Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that it was announced by PM Modi to eliminate malnutrition among women children.
Scheme will be implemented in 3 phases
The Union Minister told in the press conference that fortified rice will be distributed through PDS and other government schemes in three phases. A total cost of Rs 4,270 crore will be borne by the Central Government for ensuring this scheme.
Anurag Thakur said that through this the government plans to provide fortified rice at all ration shops. This will be achieved by 2024. He said that fortified rice would also be made available under the PM-POSHAN scheme.
What is fortified rice?
Fortified rice fulfills the requirement of essential nutritional elements in the diet of the people. It can prove to be helpful to a great extent in controlling malnutrition. The rice provided to the needy people through the schemes of the Center will be 100% fortified. Fortification is a process by which essential nutrients are added to the food. The health of the people who eat it will improve and the problem of malnutrition will go away.
A large amount of nutrients are found in fortified rice. NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, in a note issued in October 2021, said that essential nutrients like iron, folic acid and vitamin B are added to rice through fortification. It is an effective and cost effective strategy to address the problem of malnutrition in a short period of time.
However, ensuring people’s access to affordable health services and a variety of diets will play an important role to address the problem of malnutrition forever, he said. Fortified rice is rich in iron and vitamins.
PM Modi announced
The Union Minister said that this big scheme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 to eliminate malnutrition among women and children. PM Modi, while delivering a speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 last year, announced a plan to provide fortified rice to all the poor of the country through government schemes by 2024.
PM Modi had said that the government will fortify the rice given to the poor under different schemes and give them nutritious rice. He had said that whether it is rice available at ration shops or rice available in mid-day meal, by 2024 the rice available through all the schemes will be fortified.