Question : Nutritious Food Distribution through PDS

(a) whether the Government contemplates to get the nutritious food distributed through Public Distribution System (PDS) along with rice and wheat with a view to the malnutrition prevailing in various section of the society in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the poor States like Bihar and Odisha are likely to be given priorities for achieving the target so fixed, so that the benefit of the scheme percolates down to the people who are in need most, if so, the details thereof?

A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) to (b): To address anaemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country, Government of India approved Centrally 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 Cr. The Pilot Scheme focuses on 15 districts across 15 states, preferably 1 district per State. Fifteen State Governments i.e Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand& Madhya Pradesh have consented and identified their respective Districts (1 District Per State) for implementation of the Pilot Scheme.
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So far, six states namely Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh & Uttar Pradesh have started distribution of fortified rice under the Pilot Scheme in their selected districts. Further, four more States have completed the requisite processes to start distribution of fortified rice under the Pilot Scheme.



With the gradual strengthening of the ecosystem for production and distribution of fortified rice as stated above, FCI is also involved in the supply chain management of the procurement & supply of fortified rice for Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) &Mid Day Meal (MDM) schemes. So far, FCI has procured 6.60 LMT of fortified rice.

(c): The State Government of Odisha has consented and identified Malkangiri district for implementation of the Pilot Scheme on Rice Fortification. However, the Govt. of Bihar has not given its consent for implementation of the Pilot Scheme.