Lok Sabha Question No. 1555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Fortified Rice
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri G Kumar Naik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1555 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH DECEMBER, 2024

## FORTIFIED RICE

## 1555. SHRI G KUMARNAIK:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION wrtnr wi+, um at  ©T§gfqq fiewr =Ht be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any studies have been conducted to assess the nutritional  impact of fortified rice distribution after implementing  Phase I  and Phase II  of the initiative and if  so, the key findings thereof;
- (b) the rationale behind prioritizing rice fortification  to  address nutritional  deficiencies and whether alternative nutritious food options were considered before the scheme's introduction;
- (c) whether States were consulted before implementing the rice  fortification  scheme and if  so, the details of consultations held and inputs received from the States;
- (d) whether any pilot studies or  evaluations were conducted comparing fortified rice with  other  nutritional interventions and if  so, the  outcomes  of  these assessments; and
- (e) the criteria used to  select fortified  rice over other potential dietary interventions within  the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)  and welfare  schemes?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): NITI  Aayog has constituted a Core Committee to monitor the impact evaluation of the Rice Fortification Initiative. NITI  Aa)'og and the Indian Council of Medical ResearchNational Institute of Nutrition  (ICMR-NIN)  have taken up study in  six districts in  six different states of the country to  evaluate the impacts of  iron fortified  rice supplied through the Public Distribution  Systems in  India.  The study includes all  age groups, employs a time-series, repeat cross-sectional design and covers approximately  10,000 individuals.

Additionally,  the  State Government of  Uttar  Pradesh, with  the support from  the United Nations World  Food Programme, conducted an efficacy  and effectiveness study on rice fortification in Chandauli district (UP). The, study showed a significant 7.5 % point reduction in anemia prevalence among children (6-59 months) after the introduction of rice fortification, with  rates decreasing from 65.7% (baseline: National Family Health Survey5, Jan. 2021) to 58.2% (endline:  July-August  2023).

(b): The Government of India allocates three foodgrains namely; rice, wheat and coarsegrains under Targeted  Public  Distribution System and Other  Welfare  Schemes ; with  rice being the highest in quantity  allocated to  States/UTs.

Rice is  an ideal vehicle for  supplying micronutrients in India, as 65% of  the population consumes it as a staple food. The rice supply chain is already well-established, with  procured paddy being milled  at rice mills  as part of  the natural supply chain process where the fortificants  are blended to make fortified  rice.

(c): A  meeting was held with  NITI  Aayog, Ministry  of  Women &  Child  Development, Food Safety and Standards Authority  -of India and Ministry  of Health and Family  Welfare wherein it  was decided that food fortification  in rice be rolled  out covering one district per state from  March,  2019. Accordingly, the  Government of  India  approved the  Centrally Sponsored Pilot  Scheme on  "Fortification of  Rice  & its  Distribution under  the  Public Distribution System" for a period of 3 years, beginning in 2019-20. Eleven states implemented the pilot and distributed the fortified rice in their identified districts.

Consultations were  held  with all  States/UTs and concerned stakeholders before scaling up the Rice Fortification Initiative  (2021-24)  and for its further continuation till December, 2028. Ministries/  Departments  concerned with  health outcomes and States/UTs have supported the initiative.

....3/-

(d): Food fortification is a globally recognized intervention to reduce the burden of micronutrient deficiencies. It is one of the interventions under the strategy of Anemia mukt Bharat and the Rice Fortification  Initiative  is a complementary strategy aimed at reducing the prevalence of anemia.

Based on available  evidence from  a Cochrane review,  which  analyzed data from seven randomized controlled  trials  involving 1,634 participants,  the risk  of  anemia was reduced by  28% among individuals consuming fortified rice. The white paper titled "Efficacy and Safety of Iron-Fortified Rice in India,'' published by ICNIIt-NIN  in 2023, indicates that  rice  fortification can  serve as  a  midterm  strategy for  controlling  iron deficiency .

(e): As answered in reply to part (b).

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