CM Yogi will change the fate of Uttar Pradesh with ‘fortified rice’
Lucknow | Taking a positive step towards effectively streamlining the distribution of ‘fortified rice’ in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government has started allotting paddy to those rice mills where blenders will be installed. In the second phase of the Central Government’s Rice Fortification Scheme, 64,365 ration shops have been selected in 60 districts of the state. Among these, efforts are being made to benefit 12 crore beneficiaries from the annual allocation of 46.10 lakh metric tonnes under the National Food Safety Act (NFSA). It is believed that by July this year, the process of providing fortified rice to NFSA beneficiaries in every district of the state can be completed. Significantly, rice is the staple food of 65 percent of India’s population and India is also the largest producer and consumer of rice with 22 percent production in the world. In such a situation, fortified rice has an important role in keeping the nutrition replenishment smooth in the people through food.
According to the 2011 census, 19.98 crore people reside in 75 districts of 18 divisions of Uttar Pradesh. In such a situation, the state government has geared up to provide the benefit of fortified rice to 15.05 NFSL beneficiaries of the state. As per the intention of CM Yogi, 12 crore beneficiaries have started getting benefits through annual allocation of 46.10 lakh metric tonnes under NFSA through 64,365 ration shops in 60 districts under Rice Fortification Scheme in the state. Similarly, by March 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government has taken steps towards achieving the target of providing fortified rice to 3.61 crore ration card holders through 79,365 ration shops through 1718 rice mills with blenders in the state. Already, a total of 1917 lakh beneficiaries including 1823 Anganwadis, 865 ration shops have been benefited through 102 rice mills in Chandauli and Sewapuri blocks of Varanasi in the year 2021 as a pilot project in the state. Taking this success forward, the benefit of fortified rice was extended to 3.96 crore people in the first phase in the state.
Under the guidance of the Central Government, the work of providing benefits to the people through distribution of fortified rice in the state is going on in three phases. In the first phase, till March 2022, the ICDS and PM Poshan Yojana were effectively implemented across the country. At the same time, in the second phase, the direction for effective implementation of high burden districts and other welfare schemes is being decided. In the third phase, by March 2024, priority is being given to make the benefits of fortified rice reach the people smoothly in all the districts. The main focus of the state government is also on fulfilling these goals. The allotment process has started in 73 districts in the state. At present, the monthly requirement of fortified rice in the state is 4.95 lakh metric tonnes, while a total of 24.56 lakh metric tonnes of fortified rice is available with the state.
