opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3309 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Financial Assistance for Setting up of Private Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dhal Singh Bisen

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3309 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  AUGUST, 2022

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SETTING UP OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS

## 3309.  DR. DHAL SINGH BISEN:

## Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government provides financial assistance to establish private hospitals in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the salient features of such a Scheme;
- (b)  whether the Scheme is also being implemented in Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)    the  number  of  beneficiaries  availed  benefits  under  the  Scheme  in  Seoni  and  Balaghat district of Balaghat Parliamentary Constituency during the last three years?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a) No such financial assistance is given by Government of India to Private Hospitals.
- (b) & (c) Question does not arise.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Recruitment of Women in Indian Navy
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3294

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th  August, 2022

## RECRUITMENT OF WOMEN IN INDIAN NAVY

3294. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to recruit women in the Indian Navy;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken any steps in this matter so far; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a):  Yes, Sir.
- (b)  &  (c):    Women  are  being  recruited  as  officers  in  the  Indian  Navy  since  1992  and  are employed in  various  branches and specializations  on board ships  and  ashore  billets/duties. Consequent to Department of Military Affairs' Notification No. RP/3312/Women dated 23 rd June 2022, women are also eligible for appointment as Sailors in the Indian Navy.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3293 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Death of Employees During Service
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3293

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th  August, 2022

## DEATH OF EMPLOYEES DURING SERVICE

3293. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Ministry  has  any  data  with  respect  to  the  deaths  of  their  staff/employees

- during their service period/on duty, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b)  the  details  of  number  of  jobs  given  to  the  kins/  dependents  of  the  deceased  staff  on compassionate ground during the last five years along with the total number of such pending cases, State/UT-wise, year-wise?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a) & (b):  The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3292 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Fraudulent Transactions under AB-PMJAY
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3292 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  AUGUST, 2022

## FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS UNDER AB-PMJAY

## 3292.  SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  around  23000  fraudulent  transaction  were  recorded  at  empanelled hospitals under the AB-PMJAY in FY-2021-22 and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the reasons for the high incidence of fraudulent transaction under the AB-PMJAY; and
- (c) the details of measures being taken to rectify such fraudulent transaction?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (c): Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is governed on a  zero-tolerance  approach  to  any  kind  of  fraud  viz.  suspect/non-genuine  medical  treatment claims, impersonation and up-coding of treatment packages/procedures etc.

National Health Authority -the implementing agency of AB-PMJAY  has  issued a comprehensive set of anti-fraud  guidelines.  Anti-fraud  advisories  are  issued  to  States/UTs. National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU)  is created at NHA  for overall monitoring and implementation  of  anti-fraud  framework  supported  by  State  Anti-Fraud  Units  (SAFUs)  at State  level.  All  claims  require  mandatory  supporting  documents  along-with  on-bed  patient photo before approval and payment. The feature of Aadhar-based biometric verification of beneficiary at the time of admission and discharge is launched at all private hospitals. Use of artificial  intelligence  and  machine  learning  is  made  for  a  comprehensive  fraud  analytics solution to detect fraud pro-actively, develop algorithms that can be used on large volume of data to identify suspect transactions and entities and risk scoring of hospitals and claims.

Details of action taken by State Health Agencies (SHAs) State/UT-wise are at Annexure.

*****

Details of action taken by State Health Agencies (SHAs) State/UT-wise

| State             | No. of claims   |
|-------------------|-----------------|
| Chhattisgarh      | 6,913           |
| Madhya Pradesh    | 5,529           |
| Punjab            | 4,812           |
| Kerala            | 1,915           |
| Jharkhand         | 1,442           |
| Haryana           | 1,349           |
| Uttar Pradesh     | 1,211           |
| Jammu And Kashmir | 575             |
| Uttarakhand       | 147             |
| Gujarat           | 130             |
| Meghalaya         | 93              |
| Bihar             | 28              |
| Assam             | 2               |
| Himachal Pradesh  | 2               |
| Mizoram           | 2               |
| Puducherry        | 1               |
| Tripura           | 1               |
Lok Sabha Question No. 3289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Temporarily appointed BDS Doctors under NHM
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Tapir Gao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3289 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5 TH  AUGUST, 2022

## TEMPORARILY APPOINTED BDS DOCTORS UNDER NHM

## 3289.  SHRI TAPIR GAO

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that some BDS Doctors are appointed on temporary basis under the NHM Schemes in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  it  is  true  that  such  doctors  appointed  in  2016  against  clear  and  existing vacancies, having qualified in open interview, are paid almost half the salary to their colleagues who are regular in service under NHM and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that as per Supreme Court judgment these doctors should have been paid the same salary for having same qualifications, same work and same responsibilities and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the action being contemplated in this regard to give justice to such doctors?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  to  (d)  Some  BDS  Doctors  are  appointed  on  contract  basis  under  NHM  in  Sikkim  and Arunachal Pradesh as required by the respective State Government.

There  is  no  regular  position  under  NHM.  Hence,  the  comparison  of  salary  between  the contractual BDS Doctors under NHM and regular BDS Doctors under NHM does not arise.

Under  National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to the States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems upto District Hospitals, including engagement of  health  human  resource  on  contract  basis  (including  BDS  doctor),  based  on  the  proposal received from States/UTs in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) submitted by the States/UTs within their overall Resource Envelope.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 3288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Financial Assistance for HIV-AIDS Patients
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.   3288 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  AUGUST, 2022

## 'FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIV-AIDS PATIENTS'

## 3288. SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  financial  assistance  to  persons  affected  with HIV-AIDS  on  the  lines  of  the  YSR  Pension  Kanuka  Scheme  implemented  by  the Government of Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether compensation for medicines, hospital expenses and additional monetary assistance for antiretroviral therapy (ART) are also to be included in the proposed initiative, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has contemplated for creation of single window models of service delivery to address the issues of HIV diagnosis, treatment and care; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a) to (e):  National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) is a central sector scheme fully funded by Government of India. Under NACP, free lifelong anti-retro viral (ARV) drugs are provided to people living with HIV(PLHIV) who are registered at Anti-Retroviral Therapy(ART) centres.
- In  2017,  Government  of  India  passed  HIV  &  AIDS  (Prevention  and  Control)  Act  under which Ombudsman are appointed in the States to establish grievance redressal mechanism for stigma and discrimination related to HIV.

States  have  their  own  social  protection  schemes  including  those  specially  targeted  at  the PLHIV.  NACO  connects  PLHIV  with  various  social  protection  schemes  through  its mainstreaming activities.

Under  the  present  phase  of  NACP  (Phase  -V  2021-2026)  Sampoorna  Suraksha  Kendras (SSK) are set up for providing services through a single window model for those 'at risk' of Human  Immunodeficiency  virus  (HIV)  &  Sexually  Transmitted  Infections  (STI)  covering prevention-test-treat-care continuum. It includes a holistic set of services customized as per clients' needs, with strong linkages and referrals within and outside of health systems.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Mission Vatsalya Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: A. Ganeshamurthi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.3286

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2022

## MISSION VATSALYA SCHEME

## 3286. SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government proposes to partner with the private sector and volunteer groups under Mission Vatsalya Scheme for protection of vulnerable children such as those abandoned or missing;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the extent to which the said scheme is being successfully implemented with the cooperation of State and Union Territories?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (c)  :  Mission  Vatsalya  Scheme  is  a  roadmap  to  achieve  development  and  child protection  priorities  aligned  with  the  Sustainable  Development  Goals  (SDGs).   It  lays emphasis  on  child  rights,  advocacy  and  awareness  along  with  strengthening  of  the juvenile justice care and protection system with the motto to 'leave no child behind'. The Juvenile  Justice  (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2015  provisions  and  the Protection  of  Children  from  Sexual  Offences  Act,  2012  form  the  basic  framework  for implementation of the Mission. Funds under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme are released according to the requirements and demands made by the States/UTs.

The Scheme is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in partnership with State Governments  and  UT  Administrations  to  support  the  States  and  UTs  in  universalizing access and improving quality of services across the country. The fund sharing pattern is in  the  ratio  of  60:40  between  Centre  and  State  &  Union  Territories  with  Legislature respectively.  The fund sharing pattern between Centre and State is in the ratio of 90:10 for  the  North-Eastern  States  viz.  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Assam,  Manipur,  Meghalaya, Mizoram,  Nagaland,  Sikkim  and  Tripura  and  two  Himalayan  States  viz.  Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and UT of Jammu and Kashmir.  For Union Territories without Legislature, it is 100% central share.

Mission  Vatsalya  scheme  supports  the  children  through  Non-Institutional  Care  under Private Aided Sponsorship wherein interested sponsors (individuals/ institutions/ company/ banks/ industrial units/ trusts etc.) can provide assistance to children in difficult circumstances.  The  District  Magistrates  take  measures  to  encourage  individuals  or Public/  Private  Sector  Organisations  to  sponsor  a  child  or  a  group  of  children  or  an Institution.  Such  arrangements  are  subject  to  stipulations  as  per  the  Juvenile  Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and Rules thereof.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Population Control
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar, Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth, Malook Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3285 ANSWERED ON 05 TH  AUGUST, 2022

## POPULATION CONTROL

## 3285 . SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU: SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ( ALIAS ) VIJAY VASANTH: SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that India is likely to replace China as the most populous country in the world as per the latest population projections made by the United Nations;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps proposed by the Government to control the population explosion in the country;
- (d)  whether  any  steps  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  enforce  one  or  two  child  norms strictly to control population explosion;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a)    to  (f)  As  per  report  of  the  Technical  Group  on  Population  Projections  (TGPP) July 2020, chaired by Registrar General of India (RGI), the projected population of the country, in the year 2022 is 137.55crore.

The Government accords top priority to the National Family Planning Program, which is guided by the tenets of the National Population Policy 2000 and National Health Policy 2017, to address the unmet need for Family Planning.

## Steps taken by the Government:

1. Expanded Contraceptive Choices
2. Mission  Parivar  Vikas (MPV)  is  implemented  in  13  states  for  substantially  increasing access to contraceptives and family planning services.
3. Compensation scheme for sterilization acceptors which provides compensation for loss of wages to the beneficiary and also to the service provider team for conducting sterilization.
4. Post-partum  Intra-uterine  contraceptive  device (PPIUCD)  services  are  provided  post delivery.
5. Scheme for Home Delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs at doorstep of beneficiaries.
6. Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP-LMIS) to ensure last mile availability of family planning commodities across all the levels of health facilities.

The Government has been successful in reining in the growth of population, and the following progress has been achieved:

-  The  Total  Fertility  Rate  (TFR)  declined  to 2.0  in  2019-21 (NFHS  5)  which  is  below replacement level.
-  31 out of 36 States/ UTs have achieved replacement level fertility (NFHS 5).
-  The Modern Contraceptive usage has increased to 56.5% (NFHS 5).
-  The Unmet Need for Family Planning has decreased to 9.4% (NFHS 5).
-  The Crude Birth Rate (CBR) has declined to 19.7 in 2019 (SRS).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: AIIMS, Mangalagiri
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3281 ANSWERED ON- 5/8/2022

## AIIMS, MANGALAGIRI

## 3281 SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to start a Nursing College in AIIMS, Mangalagiri;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  reasons  for  the  delay  in  starting  the  said  Nursing College; and
- (c)  the  time  by  which  the  Government  is  going  to  start  the  Nursing  College  in  AIIMS, Mangalagiri?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a)  to  (c)  Steps  have  been  taken  by  AIIMS Mangalagiri for starting Nursing College  from the academic session 2022-23.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3280 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Elimination of Vector Borne Diseases
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3280

## LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 05.08.2022

## ELIMINATION OF VECTOR BORNE DISEASES

## 3280:   SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  train  100  entomologists  across  the  country  to eliminate vector borne diseases;
- (b) if so, the selection procedure of entomologists for the training programme;
- (c) the details of centres selected for the training programme, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether at least one trained entomologist will be appointed in each district of the country to tackle vector borne diseases; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) & (b):  The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),  Department  of Health Research,  Government  of  India  has  taken  initiative  to  build  Public  Health  Entomology capacity  across  the  country  by  initiating  a  National  Public  Health  Entomology  (NPHE) course at Post-Graduate level (100 Entomologists per year). 50% candidates for the two-year NPHE course are selected through a common entrance test on all India basis through open competition  and  50%  seats  are  available  for  nomination/sponsorship  by  the  Central/State Health Departments from amongst the in-service candidates.

- (c)  to  (e)     The  main  Centre  for  the  two-year  Post-Graduate  Public  Health  Entomology (M.Sc.  PHE)  course  from  the  year  2011  was  ICMR-Vector  Control  Research  Centre (VCRC), Puducherry and the same is now extended to the additional four Institutes / Centres of ICMR:
- (i) Regional Medical Research Centre (North-East), Dibrugarh, Assam,
- (ii) Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh,
- (iii) National Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur, Madya Pradesh and
- (iv) Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Patna, Bihar

Each of these  Institutes  /  Centres  proposes  to  have  20  seats  from  the  next  academic  year making a total of 100 from the academic year 2023-24.

The  entomological  manpower  in  the  country  is  available  the  Entomological  Zones  in  the States/UTs.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3276 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Distribution of Fortified Rice
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran, Behanan Benny, Mohammad Jawed

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3276

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2022

## DISTRIBUTION OF FORTIFIED RICE

3276.   SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  on  track  to  meet  its  promise  of  distributing  fortified  rice through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) and the Public Distribution System (PDS);
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  pilot  program  to  distribute  fortified  rice  was  successful,  if  so,  the  details thereof,
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b).     The Government has approved the supply of fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public  Distribution  System (TPDS) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and in Other Welfare Schemes of Government of India in all States and Union Territories (UTs) in a phased manner.

Under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (erstwhile Integrated Child Development Scheme), distribution of Fortified Rice began during the second quarter of FY 2021-22 and from the  third  quarter  onwards  of  FY  2021-22,   100%  fortified  rice  was  distributed  to  all  the State/UTs.  Consequently,  731962  MTs  of  Fortified  Rice  had  been  allocated  to  all  the States/UTs during FY 2021-22 and 634079 MTs of Fortified Rice had been allocated to the all the  State/UTs  during  FY  2022-23(upto  second  quarter  only)  under  Wheat  Based  Nutrition Programme of Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.

Under PM POSHAN scheme(erstwhile Mid Day Meal Scheme), as per the information  received from various States/UTs /FCI,  7,97,793.12 MTs of fortified rice has been lifted during the FY 2021-22.

(c)         The  Pilot  Scheme  served  as  a  platform  which  paved  the  way  towards  establishing structures for ecosystem and to further consolidate it for scaling up the distribution of fortified rice under Targeted Public Distribution System(TPDS), Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (erstwhile  ICDS),  PM-  POSHAN and Other Welfare Scheme(OWS)  in all States/UTs. A total quantity  of  approx.  4.30  LMT  of  fortified  rice  was  distributed  in  11  States  under  the  Pilot Scheme on 'Fortification of Rice and its distribution under Public Distribution System'.

Despite constraints due to COVID-19 during 2020 and 2021, the pilot was successful in ensuring the  ecosystem for fortified  rice  throughout  the  country.  Already  nearly  142  LMT  of fortified  rice  has  been  procured  by  FCI  and  State  Agencies  for  distribution  in  earmarked districts.

(d) & (e) Does not arise.

****