Govt promotes rice fortification
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 20 2021: The state government, as part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebration, conducted public awareness activities on rice fortification to address the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia at Panchayat Bhawan, Imphal East and Raising Youth Organisation, Bhakta Ashram ground, Thumbuthong Bokul Makhong in Imphal West on Saturday.

Department of Social Welfare supported by PATH led the celebration of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' and promotion of rice fortification in Imphal East District.

Director (Social Welfare) Ngangom Uttam, additional deputy commissioner Lenin Polem and PATH public health coordinator Thongsuanmung Vualnam attended the event as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Similarly, Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution conducted the celebration in Imphal West district with DC Th Kirankumar and deputy secretary (Social Welfare, Health & FW) Dr Sonia Oinam as chief guest and guest of honour respectively.

A community feeding programme for around 250 participants in the two locations were also organised to make people aware of the benefits of fortified rice.

It may be mentioned that food fortification refers to adding recommended quantities of nutrients, such as iron, folic acid, etc, to commonly consumed foods, including rice, wheat flour, edible vegetable oil, salt, and milk.

Fortification prevents micronutrient deficiencies while minimising the need for behaviour change.

Food fortification has been identified as one of the key interventions by Government of India and is now a part of national flagship programmes like POSHAN Abhiyaan and Anaemia Mukht Bharat as a preventive strategy to tackle anaemia.

In India, rice fortification has the highest potential among staple food fortification programmes as it is a staple for 65 per cent of the population, and reaches the most vulnerable and poorest sections of the country.

Moreover, rice has the highest uptake in the government safety net programmes, including the Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM), and Integrated Child Development Services ICDS, reaching nearly 800 million vulnerable people, especially women and children.

Of the five staples identified by FSSAI, considering the benefits of consumption of fortified rice and highest uptake in the government safety net programmes, the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoFPD) initiated a pilot scheme for distribution of fortified rice in 15 Indian states that started in 2019 .

In another monumental move, all rice distributed under ICDS and MDM are fortified.

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