On the lines of National Food Security Act, fortified rice will be made available on the ration cards of state scheme as well
Distribution of Fortified rice to be commenced from March 2022
Chhattisgarh Government will bear the cent percent cost of rice fortification
Raipur, 21 February 2022 / Chhattisgarh Government has taken an important decision to eradicate malnutrition and anemia in the aspirational districts and highburden districts of Chhattisgarh. From March 2022 in the financial year 2022-23, State Government will distribute fortified rice to the ration card holder beneficiaries of the state scheme in 10 aspirational districts and 02 highburden districts, under public distribution system. 100% of the expenses of rice fortification will be borne by the state government. This decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel.
According to the information received from the Food Department, annual allocation of rice to ration cards under the state scheme via PDS is about 3 lakh 89 thousand 486 tons. Nearly Rs 28.43 crores will be spent on the fortification of this rice and Rs 11.16 crores will be spent on for distribution of fortified rice to the beneficiaries of National Food Security Act. In this way, an amount of Rs.39.59 crores will be spent.
Fortified rice will be distributed in 10 aspirational districts of the state namely Korba, Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, Kanker, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar, Kondagaon, Sukma and 2 highburden districts Kabeerdham and Raigarh. On the lines of National Food Security Act, fortified rice will be distributed to ration card holding beneficiaries of State Scheme in these districts.
It is noteworthy that ‘fortified’ rice is rich in iron and vitamins. Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, folic acid, iron and zinc as well as a combination of all the nutrients are found in this rice, which can prove to be helpful in prevention and cure of malnutrition and anemia.
