Pilot Scheme for Distribution of Fortified Rice Began

November 5, 2020 Classic IAS Academy News 0

In News

The DFPD identified states for the pilot launch of a scheme wherefortified rice will be distributed through the public distribution system.

In-Detail

  • The Department of Food and Distribution (DFPD) launched the ‘Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on Fortification of Rice’ and its distribution through the Public Distribution System (PDS) towards nutritional security.
  • The scheme is aimed at fighting against chronic anaemia and undernutrition.
  • This Pilot Scheme has been approved for three years with a budget of Rs 174.6 from 2019.
  • The DFDP identified 15 state governments and their respective districts for the distribution of rice.
  • The distribution of fortified rice has already started in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh.
  • A review meeting was conducted by the Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs on 31st October 2020 and emphasised scaling up of the distribution of fortified rice in the country.
  • The DFDP approached the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to come up with a plan for the procurement and distribution of fortified rice.
  • The rice will be distributedunder theIntegrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM) from 2021-2022.
  • With the Mid-Day Meal scheme, children in government schools and anganwadis will be soon eating rice infused with iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12.
  • The main focus of the Pilot Scheme will be on procuring and supplying fortified rice to the 112 specially identified Aspirational Districts.
  • The supply of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) is to the tune of 15,000 MT per annum.
  • To cover 112 aspirational districts for PDS, MDM and ICDS there is a need for 130 Lakh MT of Fortified rice.
  • To distribute the quantum of rice, there must be an uninterrupted supply of FRK from the industry about 3.5 Lakh MT.
  • In the country, there are 28,000 rice mills that need to be equipped with blending machines for mixing the normal rice with fortified rice.
  • The supply chain and logistic implications were held with NITI Aayog, FSSAI, Tata Trust and World Food Programme.

Aspirational Districts Programme

  • Launched in the year 2018, the Transformation of Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) aimed at improving the socio-economic status of 117 poor districts from across 28 states of the country.
  • The programme is entirely driven by the state governments.
  • At least one district is selected from the 28 states.
  • The progress of the programme is monitored in real-time through a dashboard.
  • Niti Aayog is the primary agency for monitoring the progress of the programme.
  • The programme has three core principles and five broad themes with appropriate weightage for monitoring progress.
  • The three core principles are
    • Convergence of central and state schemes
    • Collaboration among citizens and functionaries of central and state governments including district teams
    • Competition among districts
  • The Five themes are
    • Health and nutrition with 30% weightage
    • Education with 30% weightage
    • Agriculture and water resources with 20% weightage
    • Financial inclusion and skill development with 10% weightage
    • Basic infrastructure with 10% weightage
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