The subject matter of the question administratively pertains to Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under Ministry Health and Family Welfare, Department of School Education and Literacy under Ministry of Education, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Women and Child Development. 

As per Department of Food and Public Distribution, the Anemia Mukt Bharat [AMB] initiative was launched in 2018 by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare emphasizing fortified foods. A pilot program for rice fortification began in 2019, targeting the significant portion of the population that consumes rice. The scaling up of the initiative was approved by the Government in 2022, and by March 2024, distribution of all custom-milled rice under food safety net programs was replaced with fortified rice. The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the universal supply of fortified rice under all government schemes until December 2028, with 100% funding (Rs 17,082 Cr) by the Government of India.

Department of Health and Family Welfare has informed that the question does not pertain to them.

As per Department of School Education and Literacy, fortified rice is used to prepare meals under the PM POSHAN Scheme to improve the micronutrient deficiencies of the school children by all States and UTs. The Department of Food and Public Distribution supplies fortified rice containing Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12 to address anaemia. The cost of fortification is borne by Govt. of India. The Guidelines envisages that Double Fortified Salt (DFS) and fortified edible oil (with Vitamins A & D) are to be used in preparation of meals under the Scheme. Fortified edible oil helps in preventing Vitamin A and D deficiencies. Double Fortified Salt helps in combating iron deficiency anaemia and goitre. The use of fortified rice and wheat flour contributes to reducing anaemia and supports mental, emotional, and neurological health among children.

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has affirmed their nil information for the question.  It has, however been stated by them that the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Foundation for Nutrition (NFN), a registered society and a Trust registered in October 2015, at Anand, Gujarat, aims to provide nutrition support to children by offering nutritious products to help eradicate malnutrition and promote the consumption of milk and fortified milk products. The efforts are focused on raising awareness about malnutrition and encouraging a healthy diet by seeking funding through donations, grants, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions. Under its Gift milk programme, NFN distributed 7.10 lakh litres of milk – equivalent to 35.4 lakh child milk days, covering about 41,700 children in 257 schools covering 11 states.

Ministry of Women and Child Development has also affirmed their nil information for the question.  It has, however been stated by them that in pursuance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Address on 75^th Independence Day, Fortified Rice has been provided under Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) since  2021-22 in lieu of normal rice.  This helps in fighting malnutrition and anaemia in women and children arising due to deficiency of micronutrients like iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B-12.  

In so far as Ministry of Food Processing Industries is concerned, it is informed that for the purpose of overall development of food processing sector in the country, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing three major Schemes comprising 2 Central Sector Schemes namely Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) and Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and 1 Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz. Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme. These schemes are primarily aimed at creation of modern food processing infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet, and to help in providing better returns to farmers, creation of employment opportunities, reducing wastage, increasing the processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods.  All the three schemes implemented across the country are demand driven.  These Schemes also intend to support the food processing entrepreneurs, food processors, and manufacturers to avail financial assistance to create modern food processing infrastructure/technologies for their processing industries.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Ravneet Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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STK

(Release ID: 2159013)