(a) whether the Ministry is planning to distribute fortified rice under PDS;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also true that only 60 paisa would be the additional cost for fortified rice;
(d) if so, whether the Ministry is considering to give this amount to States that come forward for fortification of rice;
(e) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the details of micronutrients that the Ministry has proposed to add in fortified rice?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a) and (b): Under the Government of India approved Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on "Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System", eleven (11) States namely Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand have reported distribution of fortified rice in their identified districts. Approximately 4.30 Lakh Metric Ton (LMT) of fortified rice has been distributed through PDS under the Pilot Scheme as on 31.03.2022.
(c) to (e): During the Pilot Scheme mentioned above, the incremental cost of rice fortification was worked out as 73 paise per kg, which includes cost of Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) and other incidentals. Incremental cost was shared in the ratio of 90:10 in case of North–East, Hilly and Island States/UTs and 75:25 for rest of the States.
(f): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prescribed three micronutrients - Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 for production of fortified rice.
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