Is grain fortification the only way to meet India's nutritional challenge?

Some experts say fortified grain is a wasteful expenditure with no tangible results, and advocate balanced diet instead. Others cite the success of fortification in other South Asian countries.

(This report has been updated with latest figures. The report, originally published on August 11, is being republished in view of the latest announcements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech.)


As the Centre presses ahead with its plan to distribute fortified rice through the public distribution system, in order to fight chronic anaemia and malnutrition, critics have raised questions on the strategy with some alleging that the entire programme is ‘unnecessary’ and will cost the exchequer around Rs 2,600 crore a year without delivering tangible results.

They instead advocate a different approach of meeting