GS PAPER III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Context: To address anemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country, Centre expedites capacity of the fortification of rice to increase from 15,000 MT to 3.5 lakh MT by incentivising and creating awareness among rice millers.

• The Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on "Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System” currently implemented in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh
• Fortification of rice is a cost-effective and complementary strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in diets and a step towards nutritional security and to fight anemia and malnutrition in the country
• NITI Aayog in its “Strategy for new INDIA @75” has put suggested a mandatory fortification of staples and to incorporate fortified food-grains in Government programmes, TPDS (NFSA) ICDS, Mid-day Meal Scheme (MDM) etc.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1731144

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