Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on Fortification of Rice & its distribution

To initiate the process of taking the country towards nutritional security, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) has been running a “Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on Fortification of Rice & its distribution through Public Distribution System”.

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Key-Points

The Pilot Scheme has been approved for a period of three years beginning 2019-2020 with a total budget outlay of Rs.174.6 Crore.

Fifteen State Governments have identified their respective districts (1 district per state) for implementing the Pilot Scheme.

Already 5 states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh have started the distribution of fortified rice in their respective identified districts.

In this connection, the Union Minister for Food & Consumer Affairs in his review meeting held on 31.10.2020, laid the emphasis on scaling up of the distribution of fortified rice in the country.

The FCI has been asked to come up with a comprehensive plan for procurement and distribution of fortified rice in all the Districts of the country under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) & Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme from 2021-2022.

Special focus would be placed on supplying fortified rice to the 112 specially identified Aspirational Districts of the country.