Lok Sabha Question No. 236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Distribution of Fortified Rice through PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

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

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO.236 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24th JULY, 2024

## DISTRIBUTION OF FORTIFIED RICE THROUGH PDS

## 236 SHRI VISHALD ADA PRAKASFEB APU PATIL:

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION WItm  WI+, urg  aat aT##f:Iq fiaWT +it  be pleased to state

- (a) the quantity and rate of fortified  rice purchased and mixed with  general rice distributed through the Public Distribution  System (PDS) in the country during each of the last five years along with  the name of the supplier companies, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the rationale behind making fortified rice mandatory in public distribution schemes despite concerns  raised by health experts and activists;
- (c) the measures taken to protect individuals  with  sickle cell  disease, thalassemia and other vulnerable groups from potential harmful efFects of iron-fortified  rice;
- (d) whether any comprehensive health impact assessment was conducted before scaling up the fortified  rice scheme nationwide and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the mechanisms in place to monitor  and evaluate the scheme's effectiveness in reducing anaemia; and
- (D the  altematives considered for addressing malnutrition  and  anaemia, especially promoting  diverse, locally  available nutritious  foods in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): Rice Fortification is the process of adding Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) to normal rice/Custom Milled  Rice  (CN/IR) 1% by weight. The Government of  India  has approved the incremental cost of rice fortification  with  a cap of Rs.0.73 per kg (or actual whichever is less) The States and Union territories, as per prescribed specifications, also purchase FRK  for the rice fortification  initiative. Nearly 406 LMT  of fortified rice has been distributed through the PDS since 2019-20 upto 31.03 .2024

(b): The Government of  India is  supplying fortified rice under PMGKAY and other Schemes of the Government, etc. in all  States and Union  Territories  (tHs)  as a complementary strategy to combat hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies) particularly anaemia prevailing in vulnerable sections of society. The Task Force constituted for recommending actions/legislation on food fortification, in its meeting held in May 2016 recommended interalia mandatory fortification  of rice for the Government programme in a phased manner. NITI Aayog in its 'Strategy for new INDIA  @75' also advocated the fortification of foodgrains to tackle micro-nutrient deficiency

(c): The sub-regulation (4) of Regulation 7 of the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of  Foods) Regulation, 2018 notified  on 02.08.2018 specified that every package of  food, fortified  with  Iron  shall carry a  statement 'People with  Thalassemia may take under medical supervision and persons with  Sickle Cell Anaemia are advised not  to consume ironfortified  food products.'

On  30.11.2023, a  Committee headed by  the  Director  General, Indian  Council  of Medical Research (ICN4[R) was constituted by the Ministry of Health &  Family Welfare (MoHFW) to review the advisory on Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anemia. Based on the critical  review  of  scientific  literature,  evidence and intemational prevalent practices,  the Committee has recommended the removal of warning label on fortified  rice for patients with Thalassemia  and  Sickle Cell  Anaemia. Accordingly, with the  approval of  the  competent authority,  the Food  Safety &  Standard Authority  of  India  (FSS AI)  vide  circular  dated 19th July 2024 has omitted the above sub-regulation with  immediate effect.

(d): On the basis of  studies available in India and abroad; and also the recommendation of FSS AI for  mandatory  rice  fortification in  India,  the  Government  of  India  has undertaken scaling up of the supply of fortified rice in the country  in a phased manner. Besides, there is a provision for an evaluation study of the Rice Fortification initiative on a concurrent basis by involving all the concerned stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health &  Family Welfare, in association with  other  designated stakeholders under the overall  guidance and monitoring  of NITI Aayog

3/-

(e): NITI  Aayog has constituted a Core Committee to monitor the impact evaluation of the Rice Fortification  Initiative. NITI  Aayog and ICMR-NIN  has taken up study in six districts in difFerent regions of the country to evaluate the impact of iron-fortified rice on iron-deficiency anemia. United  Nation's  World  Food Programme undertook efficacy  and effectiveness studies on Rice Fortification which  indicate  a reduction  in the prevalence of  anemia amongst children and women

(D: in  order to improve  the level of nutrition  among beneficiaries covered under PMGKAY, advisory has been issued to all the States/UTs to procure millets  and distribute  to beneficiaries as per local consumption preferences and the guidelines issued by Central Government

The National Food Security Act (NFS A) provides that pregnant women and lactating mothers and children in  the age group of  6 months to  14 years are entitled  to meals as pet prescribed nutritional norms under ICDS and PM-POSHAN schemes. Higher nutritional norms are prescribed for malnourished  children upto 6 years of  age

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