Lok Sabha Question No. 4021 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Rashtriya Mahila Kosh
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Lallu Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4021

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2023

## RASHTRIYA MAHILA KOSH

## 4021.  SHRI LALLU SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government has  taken  steps  to  spread  awareness  about  the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) if so, the details thereof, indicating the year-wise growth of RMK;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  increase  the  quality of  nutrition provided to children in Anganwadis under Poshan Abhiyan and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any survey for quality check of food supplied in Anganwadis and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  At  the  time  of  setting  up  of Rashtriya  Mahila  Kosh  (RMK),  it  was  a  prominent Government body working in the area of extending concessional micro-finance loans to poor women through Intermediary Organisation (IMOs). However, over a period of time,  substantial  alternative  credit  facility  mechanisms  have  become  available  to women  entrepreneurs  through  various  Government  initiatives  like  Pradhan  Mantri Mudra Yojna and Stand-up India and therefore the RMK has lost its relevance. In line with  the  recommendations  of  the  Expert  Management  Commission  set  up  by  the Ministry of Finance and the report on Rationalisation of Government Bodies authored by the Principal Economic Adviser, Department of Economic Affairs, Government has decided to close down RMK to improve efficiency and utilize the available resources optimally.

(b) In pursuance of the Hon'ble Prime Minister's Address on 75th Independence Day, Fortified Rice have to be provided through every Government Scheme by the year 2024. Therefore, 21 States/UTs were allocated Fortified Rice in the 2nd quarter of FY 2021-22 and only Fortified Rice in lieu of normal rice has been allocated from the 3rd quarter onwards to all the State/UTs which helps in fighting malnutrition and anaemia in women and children arising due to deficiency of micro nutrients like Iron, Folic Acid and Vitamin B-12.  Under Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) of Anganwadi Services, this Ministry has so far allocated 731962 MTs of Fortified Rice in FY 202122 and 1226115 MTs of Fortified rice in FY 2022-23 to all the States/UTs.

Under WBNP, emphasis is also being given on the supply of millets for preparation of Hot  Cooked  Meal  and  Take  Home  rations  at  Anganwadis  for  Pregnant  Women, Lactating mothers and children below 6 years of age,  as millets are highly nutritious and are known to have high nutrient content which includes protein, essential fatty acid, dietary fibre, B-Vitamins, minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, folic acid and other micro-nutrients thus helping to tackle anaemia and other micro-nutrient deficiencies common among women and children. As per the Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 guidelines, millets are to be mandatorily supplied at least once a week and suitably integrated in THR and HCM in a palatable form. In FY 2022-23, 1694.3 MTs of Bajra was allocated to the State Government of Haryana. (c) The Ministry has issued Streamlined guidelines dated 13th January 2021, wherein States/UTs have been advised to ensure that the quality of Supplementary Nutrition, with  reference  to  the  norms  of  food  safety  as  well  as  nutrient  composition,  is  in conformity to prescribed standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Further, under the Scheme Guidelines for Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, States/UTs have been advised to ensure that quality testing shall be done  through  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI)  owned  or authorized laboratories. State Governments and the Union Territory Administrations shall carry out periodic checks and get Supplementary Nutrition tested through the FSSAI  owned/registered/empanelled/accredited  laboratories  for  adhering  to  food

quality standards and testing.

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