Cabinet nod to distribute fortified rice under central schemes

In a move aimed at reducing malnutrition in the country, the Union cabinet on Friday approved a scheme to distribute fortified rice under various government programmes, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said at a media briefing.

“This will provide nutrition to every poor person of the country to overcome malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients in women, children and lactating mothers,” Thakur said.

According to an official statement later, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies have procured 88.65 metric tonnes of fortified rice for supply and distribution. The entire cost of rice fortification, of about Rs 2,700 crore