New Delhi. The central government has temporarily stopped the distribution of fortified rice distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other government schemes. The move comes amid concerns over loss of nutrients in rice during long-term storage.
What is fortified rice?
Nutrients like iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 are added to fortified rice to tackle problems like malnutrition and anemia. It was started as a pilot project in 2019 and implemented across the country by March 2024.
Why was this decision taken?
The Food Ministry had assigned a special study to IIT Kharagpur in this regard. The study examined how long fortified rice maintains its nutritional quality under different weather and storage conditions. The report revealed that the vitamins, iron and other micronutrients added to rice are being affected for a long time due to moisture, temperature and the way it is stored in warehouses.
Storage is the biggest challenge
The quantity of rice in the central pool is much more than required. According to the data, about 674 lakh metric tonnes of rice is available at the Centre, while the annual requirement is only 372 lakh metric tonnes. Due to this, rice is kept in warehouses for 2-3 years. The nutrients in rice stored for such a long time become weak, rendering the original purpose of fortified rice unfulfilled.
Its impact on the general public
The government has clarified that this step will not lead to any reduction in the quantity of rice received by ration card holders. Now this rice will not be fortified. This change will be applicable to PDS, Anganwadi (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (PM POSHAN) schemes running in schools. States have also been given the flexibility to distribute fortified or normal rice as per their convenience for the Kharif season 2025-26.
What will be the next step of the government?
The Food Ministry has said that this ban is not permanent. The government is now working on such technology or system so that the nutrients in rice remain safe for a long time. As soon as an effective method is developed, distribution of fortified rice will be resumed. This step clearly shows that the government is paying attention to both nutritional security and quality, so that the beneficiaries get safe and nutritious grains.
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