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GS Paper 2: Government Policies and Interventions GS Paper 3: Agriculture, Economy |
What’s in today’s article?
- Why in News?
- What is Rice Fortification?
- About Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY)
- What is the National Food Security Act (NFSA)?
Why in News?
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Modi, has approved the continued distribution of fortified rice under all central government schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), from July 2024 until December 2028.
The rice fortification initiative will be maintained as a central sector program, fully funded by the central government, and integrated within the PMGKAY (Food Subsidy) framework to ensure a unified implementation approach.
What is Rice Fortification?
Definition:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) describes fortification as the intentional addition of essential micronutrients to food to improve its nutritional quality, aiming to benefit public health with minimal risks.
Need for Fortification:
- Malnutrition in India:
India continues to grapple with high malnutrition rates, particularly among women and children. Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) reveals that half of the women are anaemic, and a third of children are stunted. Deficiencies in iron, Vitamin B12, and folic acid are common, impacting health and productivity. - Rice as a Solution:
Rice, consumed by two-thirds of India’s population, is a staple and ideal candidate for fortification to address malnutrition. With a per capita rice consumption of 6.8 kg per month, enriching it with micronutrients can boost the nutritional intake of the economically disadvantaged.
Fortification Process:
Fortification technologies such as coating, dusting, and extrusion are available, with extrusion being the most suitable for India. This method involves mixing dry rice flour with micronutrients and water, which is then passed through an extruder to create fortified rice kernels (FRKs) that look like regular rice. These kernels are mixed with regular rice in a 1:100 ratio to produce fortified rice.
Nutrient Content:
As per FSSAI standards, each kilogram of fortified rice includes:
- Iron: 28-42.5 mg
- Folic acid: 75-125 micrograms
- Vitamin B12: 0.75-1.25 microgram
- Additionally, other micronutrients like zinc, Vitamin A, and B vitamins may be added.
Cooking and Consumption:
- Fortified rice is cooked like regular rice and retains its nutritional content even after cooking.
- It is packaged with a ‘plus F’ logo, labeled as “Fortified with Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12.”
Progress of the Initiative:
In 2015, Prime Minister Modi announced the fortification of rice distributed under government schemes, such as the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Mid-Day Meal Scheme, with full implementation by 2024. The initiative was rolled out in phases:
- Phase 1 (by March 2022): Integrated Child Development Services and PM POSHAN
- Phase 2 (by March 2023): PDS and welfare schemes in 112 Aspirational Districts
- Phase 3 (by March 2024): Nationwide coverage
Cost and Scale:
The annual cost of rice fortification is estimated at ₹2,700 crore, which is under 2% of India’s total food subsidy expenditure. Between 2019 and March 2024, 406 lakh metric tonnes of fortified rice were distributed through the PDS. India has 925 manufacturers of fortified rice with an annual capacity of 111 lakh metric tonnes, and rice mills with the capacity to blend 223 lakh metric tonnes. The government has invested ₹11,000 crore in the supply chain of fortified rice.
About Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY):
PM-GKAY is a food security scheme announced by the Central Government in March 2020 to address hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is part of the larger Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) aimed at supporting the poorest segments of society.
Objective:
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan scheme provides grain to the most vulnerable households in India via the Public Distribution System.
Eligible households include ration card holders and those identified under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), which was launched in 2000 to provide highly subsidized food to the poorest families.
Entitlements:
Eligible beneficiaries under the NFSA 2013 received 5 kg of free wheat or rice per person per month, in addition to the 5 kg already provided under the NFSA.
Implementing Agency:
The scheme is managed by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Merger with NFSA:
In December 2022, the government merged PMGKAY with NFSA, making the entire food grain allocation under NFSA (5 kg per person or 35 kg per household) free of cost. Previously, beneficiaries paid a nominal fee for rice and wheat under NFSA.
Extension:
The scheme has been extended for an additional five years from January 1, 2024. It was previously extended until December 31, 2023.
What is the National Food Security Act (NFSA)?
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 was introduced to ensure food and nutritional security by providing access to affordable, quality food. It grants legal rights to eligible households to receive subsidized food grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
Beneficiaries:
State governments are responsible for identifying eligible households under two categories:
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) for the poorest of the poor
- Priority Households (PHH) within the population covered by the TPDS.
Entitlements:
Each individual in the PHH category is entitled to 5 kg of food grains per month at subsidized rates: ₹3 per kg for rice, ₹2 per kg for wheat, and ₹1 per kg for coarse grains. AAY households receive 35 kg of food grains per month.
Coverage:
The Act covers up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, benefiting approximately 67% of the total population.
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