Lok Sabha Question No. 1582 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Universal Fortification of Staple Food
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: OM PRAKASH YADAV, JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, SANTOSH AHLAWAT, KAMALBHAN SINGH MARABI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1582

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2016

## UNIVERSAL FORTIFICATION OF STAPLE FOOD

1582 SHRI OM PRAKASH YADAV: SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL: SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI: SRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT: SHRI KAMALBHAN SINGH MARABI:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  universal  fortification  of  all  staple  food  items  to  address malnutrition problem in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Group of Secretaries working on health and education has also made any recommendation/proposal in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the expected timelines for the specific delivery of this project; and

(d) the further measures taken by the Government to address the issue of malnutrition in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a)  The  Ministry  has  constituted  a  Committee  to  suggest  formulation  of  comprehensive  policy  and  draft legislation  /  regulation  on  Food  Fortification  under  the  Chairpersonship  of  Director,  National  Institute  of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad. A Consultation Meeting has also been held recently with stakeholders to evolve a comprehensive policy and draft legislation / regulation on micronutrient fortification.

(b&c)  Yes,  Madam. Group  of  Secretaries  on  'Education  &  Health  -  Universal  Access  and  Quality'  has, inter-alia ,  identified Fortification of staple food like rice, wheat, edible oil and milk with iron folic acid and vitamin-A with a timeline of 3 years as one of the measures.

(d)  The  Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations to  address  one  or  other  aspect  related  to  Nutrition.  This  Ministry  is  implementing  Integrated  Child Development  Services  (ICDS)  Scheme,  'Rajiv  Gandhi  Scheme  for  Empowerment  of  Adolescent  Girls (RGSEAG)-'Sabla', and Indira Gandhi MatritvaSahyogYojana (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition among women and children.

Additionally,  the  Food  and  Nutrition  Board  of  the  Ministry,  through  its  43  regional  field  units,  is engaged  in  conducting  training  programmes  in  nutrition,  in  addition  to  advocacy  towards  generating awareness through nutrition education programmes on the importance of healthy balanced diets especially through  the  use  of  locally  available  foods,  mass  awareness  campaigns  and  use  of  electronic  and  print media.

The main aim of all these activities is to improve nutritional outcomes and bring down the level of malnutrition in the country especially amongst women and children.

*******