Lok Sabha Question No. 1010 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Funds to Tamil Nadu under Rice Fortification Programme
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi, Kripanath Mallah

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1010 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26TH JULY,  2023

## FUNDS TO TAMIL  NADU  UNDER RICE FORTIFICATION  PROGRAMME

## 1010.  DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC DiSTRiBUTiON 3q€tnT qm&, vrw at  IIT8rfqq f+vw IHt be pleased to state:

- (a) the features of the Rice Fortification Programme;
- (b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under this programme within  Tamil  Nadu so far;
- (c) the details of the number of States that  have been included under this  programme so far across  the country;
- (d) the number of districts which have started distributing fortified rice under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) within  the  country including Tamil Nadu;
- (e) the details  of  the  annual  Fortified  Rice Kernel  (FRK) manufacturing capacity  increased  under this  programme so far; and
- (f) the steps being taken by the Government to educate the public about the nutritional benefits of fortified  rice?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): in order to achieve uniform nutritional  impact of fortified  rice among the targeted population, the Government of India 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 by the year 2024. The following  3 phases are envisaged for full implementation of the initiative:

Phase-1: Covering leDS and PM POSHAN in all over India by larch, 2022.

Phase-II: Phase I above plus TPDS and OWS in 112 Aspirational and 250 High Burden Districts on stunting (total 291 districts)  by March 2023.

Phase-III: Phase II  above plus  covering the  remaining districts  of  the country  by March, 2024.

- (b): Government has not allocated a separate fund for Tamil Nadu under the Rice Fortification  Programme. However, a food subsidy of Rs. 8685.95 crore was released by Government of India to Government of Tamil Nadu towards distribution of foodgrains during the financial year 2022-23.
- (c): At present, fortified rice is being distributed in 31 States/UTs across the country. Three States viz. Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana are wheat consuming, where fortified  rice  is  not distributed  under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Two UTs viz. Puducherry and Chandigarh are Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) UTs so fortified  rice is not distributed.
- (d): As of  June 2023, fortified  rice is  being distributed in  529 Districts under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) including 38 districts  of Tamil Nadu.
- (e): As per the licenses given by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) manufacturers, the annual FRK manufacturing capacity of all the FRK manufacturers is approximately 201.184 LMT per annum.
- (f): Various State  Governments were requested to  organize programmes to  create awareness on benefits of fortified  rice and its  positive impact on nutritional security in  the  tribal  areas  of  the  country.  Accordingly, workshops/seminars in 9 districts having tribal population -  in the States of Gujarat (Vapi), Maharashtra (Nashik and Nandurbar), Chhattisgarh (Kanker), Jharkhand (East Singhbhum), Madhya Pradesh (Shahdol, Mandla, Barwani) and Kerala (Wayanad) were conducted with  the  involvement of DFPD, FCI and other stakeholders such as Field Experts including Medical Professionals, members of  Media, prominent personalities,  local  leaders and Development Partners.

A  provision of Administrative/Contingency  Cost which  inter-alia includes Information, Education, Communication (IEC) and  Capacity Building to the tune of Rs. 5.OO lakh per district  has been made, which  has been provided by the  Government of  India during the  implementation of rice fortification  initiative  in Phase-II and Phase-III,

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