Centre suspends rice fortification scheme; activists back move, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Union Food Ministry has temporarily suspended the rice fortification scheme under PMGKAY and other welfare schemes.
• The decision follows a review of the scheme's implementation and concerns over the shelf life and nutrient stability of fortified rice.
• Activists who challenged the scheme in the Supreme Court welcomed the move, citing concerns about its effectiveness and safety.
• An IIT Kharagpur study highlighted the impact of storage conditions on the stability and shelf life of fortified rice kernels.

Detailed Insights:

• The government's decision was influenced by findings that factors like moisture content, temperature, and packaging affect the stability of fortified rice, reducing its shelf life and nutritional value.
• Activists argue that rice fortification is not a scientifically sound method to address anaemia, as not all cases are linked to iron deficiency.
• The government maintains that this suspension will not reduce foodgrain entitlements or affect the Public Distribution System (PDS) operations.
• Rice fortification was implemented as a measure to combat micronutrient deficiencies in the population, particularly among vulnerable sections.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Rice Fortification: The process of adding micronutrients to rice to increase its nutritional value.
• PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana): A scheme to provide free food grains to the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Public Distribution System (PDS): A government-run system for distributing subsidized food and essential items to the poor.