Bhubaneswar: Odisha is among the 11 states where the pilot scheme for fortification of rice and its distribution under public distribution system (PDS) has been implemented.
The pilot scheme is being undertaken for a period of 3 years begining 2019-20 with a total outlay of Rs 174.64 crore, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey said.
In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Friday, Choubey informed that Government of India approved the Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on “Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System” for a period of 3 years beginning in 2019-20 with total outlay of Rs 174.64 crore.
The Pilot Scheme focuses on 15 districts across 15 states, preferably 1 district per State. Out of 15 States which consented for the Pilot Scheme, so far eleven (11) States: Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.
“These states have reported distribution of fortified rice in their identified districts under the pilot scheme. So far 3.64 Lakh Metric Ton (LMT) of fortified rice has been distributed under the Pilot Scheme,” the Minister stated.
The incremental cost @ 73 paise per Kg is uniformly reimbursed by the States/UTs to the Millers for production of fortified rice and shared between the Centre and the States/UTs in the ratio of 90:10 in case of North–East, Hilly and Island States/UTs and 75:25 in case of rest of the States.
