+F rice to fight hidden hunger and malnutrition
The Hindu
What does the introduction of fortified rice commercially mean to the common man?
Pawan Kumar, a student of the Government Higher Primary School, Obhichudanahalli, Bengaluru, gained 2.5 kilograms in three months after fortified rice was introduced in the mid-day meal at his school. His mother Indira Kumar is overjoyed. He is now active, lively and has better attention span, she says. The school-in-charge informed her about the change. “I was told that the rice has more micronutrients than regular rice. It has definitely helped my son. He is happier,” says Indira. On Independence Day, the Prime Minister announced the scaling up of the scheme to supply fortified rice to beneficiaries under various Government schemes such as the Public Distribution System (ration shops), Mid-Day Meal and Integrated Child Development Service (Anganwadi centres) by 2024. A centrally sectoral pilot scheme on fortified rice and its distribution in 15 states (one district per State) had been approved by the Government of India in 2019. The scheme was to run for three years.More Related News