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Economy, Schemes & Policies
Mahesh

13/06/22 20:42 PM IST

Rice- fortification programme

In News 
  • The government is planning to cover 291 districts by March 2023 aspirational and heavy burden districts under the rice fortification programme.
About the programme 
  • Under the Phase II of the ‘distribution of Fortified Rice through Public Distribution System (PDS)’, which began in April 2022, overcoming all production related challenges, 90 LMT (Lakh Metric Tonnes) of fortified rice has already been produced. 
  • 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 PDS, more than 90 Districts (in 16 States) have started lifting of fortified rice and around 2.58 Lakh MT have been distributed so far.
  • Fortification of Rice and its Distribution under Public Distribution System” was implemented for a period of 3 years beginning from 2019-20.
Poshan Abhiyan 
  • In September 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman or PM-POSHAN for providing one hot cooked meal in Government and Government-aided schools with the financial outlay of Rs 1.31 trillion.
  • The scheme replaced the national programme for mid-day meal in schools or Mid-day Meal Scheme.
  • It has been launched for an initial period of five years (2021-22 to 2025-26).
Reasons for distribution of Fortified Rice 
  • Globally, more than 2 billion population have Multiple Micronutrient Deficiencies, 1.6 billion people have anemia, more than 50% have iron deficiency, 260,100 pregnancies every year affected by Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) and the multiple micronutrient deficiencies are important cause of mortality, morbidity, impaired human development.
Benefits 
  • 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.
Source- PIB 

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