New Delhi: In one of its kind initiative to tackle malnutrition in the state, Uttar Pradesh government has launched a programme under which fortified rice would be distributed to people via Public Distribution System (PDS).

UP CM Yogi Adityanath launched this programme virtually from Chandauli, one of the ‘aspirational districts’ of the state. From next month i.e. February, all the ration shops of Chandauli will distribute fortified rice and by the end of year, the entire state will be covered.

Malnutrition is a major drawback when comes to health of children and mothers. Eradicating this menace is high on priority list of CM Yogi Adityanath, as he recently made a clarion call to implement the scheme across the state.

The fortified rice has food and nutritional supplements with sufficient quantity of iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B, Vitamin B 12, folic acid and various other micro nutrients. It also adds medicinal values to rice, a staple food in many parts of the state and this in turn will help improve immunity of population.

Rice, a staple diet for about 65% population

To ensure that fortified rice becomes an eating habit because of its nutritional value, the Yogi government will create awareness in which the public representatives will also be asked to participate.

The CM has directed that the Nodal officers will also be appointed to ensure proper promotion of the rice and to check black marketing.

It is to be mentioned that rice is one of the favourite diets of Indians and according to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), about 65% people in the country use rice as an essential part of their food. Keeping this in mind, fortified rice will play an important role in fighting malnutrition in India.

Malnutrition is one of the main problems in India. As much as 59% children in age group of 6 months to 5 years, 53% women in the age group of 15 to 50 years and 22 percent men in the age group of 15 years to 50 years are deficient in iron and micronutrients.

Rice distribution via ration shops

The rice will be distributed through ration cards from the ration shops where the number of people taking the facility of subsidised food grains is more. Therefore, for the section of society that is more sensitive in terms of malnutrition, it will also work as a medicine.

Fortified rice is the normal rice that is coated with nutrients like iron, vitamins and micronutrients as a layer over it.

Millers will also be benefited by processing this rice and it will also generate employment at the local level in the MSME sector. The local farmers will also be benefiting from it in terms of increased income.