- Yogi govt approves the estimated expenditure on the supply of fortified rice in the first quarter of FY 2023-24
- The goal will be achieved through coordination between the Finance Department, Food and Civil Supplies Department, and the Department of Women and Child Development and Nutrition
By Our Correspondent
Lucknow: Taking forward the campaign to control malnutrition in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has now paved the way for the use of ‘fortified rice’ in Anganwadi centers. The state government has approved the estimated expenditure on the supply of fortified rice in the first quarter of the financial year 2023–24.
Efforts have been initiated through the coordination of the Finance Department, the Food and Civil Supplies Department, and the Department of Women and Child Development and Nutrition to achieve this goal.
It is noteworthy that under the National Food Safety Act (NFSA), the state is already making efforts to provide the annual allocation of 46.10 lakh metric tons of fortified rice to benefit 15.05 crore beneficiaries.
In this regard, it is being considered that by July of this year, the process of providing fortified rice to NFSA beneficiaries in every district of the state may be completed. At the same time, efforts are being accelerated to provide benefits to children of 6 months to 6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through Anganwadi centers.
Advance payment of Rs 13.54 crore has been approved
In accordance with Chief Minister Yogi’s intention, an amount of over Rs 13.54 crore has been approved to fulfill the supply of fortified rice in the first quarter of the financial year 2023-24, as part of the distribution of ‘Pushthahar’ in the state.
Following the guidelines of the Government of India related to the scheme, a target has been fixed to achieve the adjustment of all the advance amount sanctioned in the financial year 2023-24 by March 31, 2024.
District Program Officers will monitor the process
The District Program Officer will be responsible for monitoring the entire process. According to the process, they will assess the food requirements of the Anganwadi workers every month and provide information related to the demand for food to the Food and Civil Supplies Department. The supply will be made accordingly.
The Food and Civil Supplies Department will inform the District Program Officer about the transportation of food to the ration shops and its delivery to the appropriate rate vendors. It will be the responsibility of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to provide information about the allocation of funds to the Department of Women and Child Development and Nutrition every month.
Fortified Rice enhances the properties of rice
Fortified rice is richer than normal rice in terms of nutrition because milling and processing typically removes the fat and micronutrient from normal rice, whereas fortified rice retains all of these properties. Vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin E, Niacin, Iron, Zinc, Folic Acid, Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin A are preserved and enriched with micronutrients through the blending process in fortified rice and it can help solve many health related problems in people, including anemia, in the country. The process of its distribution is being promoted in the country through the Rice Fortification Scheme of NFSA.
Work divided into three phases
Under the guidance of the Central Government, the work of providing fortified rice to people in the state has been divided into three phases. In the first phase, held till March 2022, the ICDS and PM Nutrition Scheme were effectively implemented across the country. Similarly, in the second phase, steps are being taken for effective implementation of the scheme in high burden districts.
In the third phase, by March 2024, priority is being given to deliver the benefits of fortified rice to the people smoothly in all the districts. The main focus of the state government is also on fulfilling these goals. The allotment process has started in 73 districts in the state.
At present, the monthly requirement of fortified rice in the state is 4.95 lakh metric tonnes, while a total of 24.56 lakh metric tonnes of fortified rice is available in the state.
