The cabinet committee on economic affairs has approved distribution of fortified rice through ration shops and as part of midday meals in schools, in a phased manner. The fortification is aimed at providing nutrition to the poor to overcome malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients in women, children, and lactating mothers.
The scheme will be implemented in all the states and Union territories by 2024.
The entire cost of rice fortification, around Rs. 2,700 crore per annum, would be borne by the Centre as part of food subsidy till its full implementation up to June, 2024.
“The fortified rice will be provided through 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)and other welfare schemes of government of India in all States and Union Territories by 2024 in a phased manner,” the government said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the first phase of the scheme has already begun in schools as midday meal through the ICDS centres and under PM Poshan scheme.
In the second phase, by March 2023, fortified rice will be made available through ration shops under the public distribution system in 112 aspiration districts, followed by 250 high burden districts.
In the third phase, by March 2024, ration shops in all states and the UT will start providing it.
The food corporation of India and state agencies have already started procurement of fortified rice and so far procured nearly 88.65 lakh metric tonnes for distribution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address on the 75th Independence Day (in 2021) had made an announcement about providing fortified rice to overcome the grave issue of malnutrition among poor, women, children, and lactating mothers.
Earlier, the centrally sponsored pilot scheme on fortification of rice was implemented for a period of three years beginning from 2019-20. Eleven states—Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand— successfully distributed the fortified rice in their identified districts (one district per state) under the pilot scheme.