Question : Fortified Rice to Tackle Malnutrition

(a) whether it is a fact that the Government has approved the distribution of fortified rice across Government schemes such as the Public Distribution System and nutrition services for women, school children and anganwadi beneficiaries to tackle malnutrition and poor health;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is also true that the said scheme at a cost of Rs.2,700 crore would be borne by the Centre until it is fully implemented by June, 2024;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Food Corporation of India and State agencies are engaged in procuring fortified rice and nearly 88.65 lakh metric tonnes of fortified rice has been procured so far and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government to extend the programme country-wide and to arrest malnutrition?

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

(b) to (d): The Government has approved the supply of fortified rice through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Agencies in the entire Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) including Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) schemes, covering all the States and Union Territories in a phased manner. The cost of the initiative (incremental cost plus other administrative and contingency cost) has been funded 100% by the Government of India at a total cost of Rs. 2679.47 crore for the whole country.

(e) and (f): FCI and State Agencies have already procured approximately 140 LMT of Fortified Rice so far. Instructions have been issued to all States/UTs to build up necessary infrastructure for rice fortification and to ensure adherence to deadline with regular monitoring.
*****