Lok Sabha Question No. 1075 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Fortified Rice under TPDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Jaskaur Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1 075 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26TH JULYI 2023

## FORTIFIED RICE UNDER TPDS

## tl075. SHRIhHATI JASKAUR  MEENA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC DiSTRiBUTiON 3qqttrr qM,  @rw at  qTdatfqq fqtWT IHt be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of rice fortification  programme;
- (b) the quantum of funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized so far under the said programme in Rajasthan;
- (c) the number of states  covered under the said programme so far in the country;
- (d) the number of districts which have started distribution of fortified rice under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in the country including Rajasthan;
- (e) the details of cumulative annual Fortified Rice Keruel (FRK) manufacturing capacity  so far under the said programme; and
- (f) the  steps  being  taken by  the  government to  make  people  aware about the nutrition related 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 ICDS and PM POSHAN in all over India by March, 2022.

Phase-II: Phase 1 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): Since, Rajasthan is  a wheat  consuming State  under Targeted Public Distribution  System (TPDS), no Custom Milled  Rice (CMR) purchased in Rajasthan region.
- (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) excluding the districts of  Rajasthan. Since, Rajasthan is  a  wheat consuming State under  TPDS, fortified rice is not distributed under TPDS in this State.
- (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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