‘Fortified rice being supplied through PDS across India, not just Kashmir’

By Suchismita

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma Monday reaffirmed that the fortified rice was being supplied, through the Public Distribution System, across the country, including all parts of J&K, not just Kashmir, to overcome deficiencies of micronutrients.

He stated this while seeking to allay the apprehensions of members and general public in his reply to the debate in the Legislative Assembly on demands for grants for the departments under his charge, for the year 2025-26.

Sharma, who also holds the charge of Departments of Transport; Science and Technology; Information Technology; Youth Services and Sports and ARI and Trainings, said, “The distribution of fortified rice, being referred to as “plastic rice” by members, is an ambitious initiative of the Government of India to combat anaemia and micro-nutrient deficiencies.”

“This initiative was undertaken by the Government of India after proper studies and consultations with the experts. It aims to provide fortified rice under all Food and Supplies schemes. Rice fortification involves addition of iron, folic acid and Vitamin B12 to overcome the deficiencies of micronutrients,” Sharma said.

He reiterated that it was distributed under the Public Distribution System (PDS) across the country by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India and also in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Minister also requested the media persons to focus on this issue to allay apprehensions among the general public.

Earlier NC member Shamima Firdous and few other members had raised apprehensions about “plastic rice” being supplied in Kashmir.

They alleged that it was supplied in Kashmir and not in other parts of J&K or elsewhere in the country.

This article has been republished from The Greater Kashmir.