Government to prepare roadmap for distribution of fortified rice

NEW DELHI: The government will prepare a detailed roadmap for the nationwide distribution of fortified rice through ration shops. Food minister Ram Vilas Paswan reviewed the progress of rice distribution with NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar and instructed official to implement the distribution fortified rice.

“We will take suggestions and feedback from all the states and stakeholders before implementing this programme,” said Paswan.

The government, in February this year, had a approved centre-sponsored pilot scheme on “Fortification of Rice and its Distribution under Public Distribution System”.


Under this scheme rice is fortified with Iron, Folic Acid and Vitamin B-12. The Pilot Scheme has been approved for a period of three year beginning 2019-20.

Currently, the scheme focuses on 15 districts preferably 1 district per State during the initial phase of implementation.

“We are now looking at implementing this scheme across the country,” Paswan said.

The operational responsibilities for implementation of the pilot scheme lie with states which fortifies the rice for distribution through Public Distribution System (PDS).