The Government of India in its recent move has extended the fortified rice scheme under food programmes. The scheme has been extended till 2028. The scheme is aimed at combating anemia, and nutritional deficiencies by supplying rice that is enriched with Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12. This ambitious health centric scheme is backed by a ₹17,082 crore budget.
Supply of Fortifies Rice Approved with Full Budget
In a significant step towards combating nutritional deficiency and fighting anemia under the Anemia Mukt Bharat initiative, the Government of India began fortifying rice in 2019. By March 2024, all custom-milled rice distributed through food safety net programmes was fortified. Since the scheme has been extended till 2028, fortified rice will be distributed and will continue to cater to a large section of the population, with ₹17,082 crore fully funded by the Centre.
Since the inception of the scheme all the states and Union Territories are using fortified rice to prepare school meals under the flagship PM POSHAN Scheme. Meals also include Double Fortified Salt and fortified edible oil enriched with Vitamins A and D to combat micronutrient deficiencies. This approach promotes mental, emotional, and neurological well-being among students.
Gift Milk Programme for Children
The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), through its Foundation for Nutrition, delivers fortified milk to school children which was initiated under the Gift Milk Programme. Since the inception of the programme, it has provided 7.10 lakh litres of milk, translating to 35.4 lakh child milk days in 257 schools across 11 states, and is supported through CSR funding and grants.
In his written reply in Lok Sabha the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Ravneet Singh stated that as far as the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is concerned, 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. (Details obtained from Press Information Bureau (PIB).