Fortified rice in PDS: Cong slams govt

Press Trust of India

New Delhi 

The Congress Thursday targeted the Narendra Modi government over rolling out fortified rice under PDS and accused it of going ahead with the decision without ascertaining the outcome of independent research and the ill effects of such rice on the health of 80 crore poor people.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera asked what was the tearing hurry to implement the scheme of providing fortified rice containing prescribed micronutrients and "what relation does the government have with the foreign conglomerate Royal DSM" which has bagged a major contract to distribute the rice in the country.

He also sought to know whether any quid pro quo was involved. A couple of days ago, the government said fortified rice was being distributed through ration shops in 439 districts and other welfare schemes so far while asserting that there is enough global evidence of its health benefits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address in 2021 said the government aims to distribute fortified rice via government schemes by 2024.

Thereafter, a scheme for the distribution of fortified rice, containing prescribed micronutrients -- iron, folic acid, Vitamin B12 -- was launched on October 2021 in a phased manner to address the problem of anaemia among women and children.

Congress spokesperson Khera alleged the Modi government rolled out fortified rice under the Food Security Act despite "failed" pilot projects and multiple warnings by experts, government officials, FSSAI and Niti Aayog advisors. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Independence Day in 2021 made the rather "unusual and unconventional" announcement about implementing the fortified rice scheme despite warnings.

Three days later, NITI Aayog officials began drawing up a plan to universalize rice fortification. man health before pushing it further, he said.