NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday announced extension of free fortified rice under various government welfare programs, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana ( PMGKAY ), until the end of 2028. This initiative, which aims to reduce anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies among the population, will come at a cost of Rs 17,082 crore, entirely borne by the central government . "Today the cabinet approved the continuation of supply of free Fortified Rice under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare schemes from July, 2024 to December, 2028.
The expectation is that it will reduce anaemia and micro-nutrient deficiency. The total financial implication will be Rs 17,082 Cr and 100% funding will be by the Central Government," Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said during the press briefing. The implementation of this program is expected to have a significant impact on the health and well-being particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had decided in April 2022 to implement the Rice fortification initiative across India in a phased manner, with the goal of achieving universal coverage by March 2024. The initiative has been successfully completed, and fortified rice is now being supplied in all government schemes. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), conducted between 2019 and 2021, reveals that anaemia is a widespread problem in India, affecting people of all ages and income level.