In a reply in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah informed that fortified foodgrains, including rice, pulses, lentils and peas, are not procured through cooperative societies or federations such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd (NCCF). However, paddy and raw pulses are procured through these agencies.
The Minister further stated that the Government of India has launched a centrally sponsored scheme for the fortification of rice with Iron, Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 to address micronutrient deficiencies among vulnerable sections of society.
Under the scheme, fortified rice is distributed through various welfare programmes, including the Public Distribution System (PDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), PM-POSHAN and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
He added that the Government has approved the continuation of the universal supply of fortified rice under all Government schemes, including PMGKAY and other welfare schemes, from July 2024 up to December 2028.
