Context: Children in anganwadis and government schools could soon be eating rice infused with iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12. For this Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been asked to tie up with rice mills for increasing the supply of fortified rice via ration shops and other welfare schemes.
About Food Fortification

• Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as Iron, Iodine, Zinc, Vitamins A & D to staple foods such as rice, wheat, oil, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content.

Key Points

• In a bid to combat chronic anaemia and undernutrition, the government is making plans to distribute fortified rice through the Integrated Child Development Services and Mid-Day Meal schemes across the country from next year, with a special focus on 112 aspirational districts, according to a statement from the Food Ministry.
• An existing pilot scheme to distribute fortified rice through the Public Distribution System in 15 districts has only been implemented in five districts so far, although more than half the project duration is over.
• The Food Corporation of India has now been asked to come up with a comprehensive plan to scale up the annual supply of fortified rice from the current 15,000 tonnes to at least 1.3 lakh tonnes, said the statement.

About Fortified Rice

• Fortifying rice involves grinding broken rice into powder, mixing it with nutrients, and then shaping it into rice-like kernels using an extrusion process.
• These fortified kernels are then mixed with normal rice in a 1:100 ratio, and distributed for consumption.

Why do India Need Fortification of Food?
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4):

• 58.4% of children (6-59 months) are anaemic
• 53.1% of women in the reproductive age group are anaemic
• 35.7% of children under 5 are underweight

India has a very high burden of micronutrient deficiencies caused by Vitamin A, Iodine, Iron and Folic Acid leading to Night Blindness, Goitre, Anaemia and various birth defects.

• Fortification is a globally proven intervention to address the much prevalent micronutrient deficiencies in the population.
• Food Fortification has a high benefit-to-cost ratio.
• Adding nutrients to staple foods is an excellent method to improve the health of a large section of the population.
• The addition of micronutrients to food does not pose a health risk to people. The quantity added is small, well under the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) well regulated as per prescribed standards for safe consumption.
• It is a cost-effective intervention and socio-culturally acceptable way to deliver nutrients to people.
• It does not alter the characteristics of the food like the taste, aroma or the texture of the food.

Implementation Issues

• Only five States — Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh — have started the distribution of fortified rice in their identified pilot districts.
• The remaining 10 States have only now identified their respective districts, and will soon start distribution, but less than one and a half years remain in the pilot scheme period.

Supply Issues

• Currently, there are only 15,000 tonnes of these kernels available per year in the country.
• To cover PDS, anganwadis and mid-day meals in the 112 aspirational districts, annual supply capacity would need to be increased to about 1.3 lakh tonnes.
• To cover PDS across the country, 3.5 lakh tonnes of fortified kernels would be needed.

Who implements the Fortification of rice schemes?

• Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Department of Food & Public Distribution.

Status of Fortification of Rice and its Distribution under PDS

• The Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on “Fortification of Rice and its Distribution under Public Distribution System (PDS)” has been approved for a period of three years beginning 2019-20.
• The Pilot Scheme is funded by Government of India in the ratio of 90:10 in respect of North Eastern, Hilly and Island States and 75:25 in respect of the rest of the States.
• The Pilot Scheme focuses on 15 districts, preferably 1 district per State.
• The decentralized model of fortification by States/UTs has been approved in the Pilot Scheme with blending at the rice milling stage.
• The operational responsibilities and identification of the districts for implementation of the Pilot Scheme lie with the States/UTs.
• States/UTs have been requested to operationalize blending of fortified rice at milling stage and start its distribution through PDS as early as possible.
• So far, 15 States have consented for implementation of the Pilot Scheme.