Cabinet gives nod to scheme worth Rs 17,082 cr for fortified rice

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave a nod to scheme worth Rs 17,082 crore for fortified rice to address anaemia and micro-nutrients deficiency.

100 per cent of the funding will be given by the Central Government.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted between 2019 and 2021, anaemia remains a widespread issue in India, affecting children, women, and men across various age groups and income levels. Besides iron deficiency, other vitamin and mineral deficiencies, such as Vitamin B12 and folic acid, also persist, impacting the overall health and productivity of the population.

Food fortification has been used globally as a safe and effective measure to address anaemia and micronutrient malnutrition in the vulnerable population. Rice is an ideal vehicle for supplying micronutrients in the Indian Context as 65% of India’s population consumes rice as a staple food. Rice fortification involves the addition of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) enriched with micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B 12) as per standards prescribed by FSSAI to regular Rice (Custom Milled Rice).

(More to come)