Kadapa: To ensure nutritious diet for pregnant women and children, the government has started providing fortified rice, as per the directions of the Central government under the mid-day meals programme.
Fortified rice contains iron, folic acid and Vitamin B12. It helps set right
malnutrition and provides micronutrients to pregnant mothers to nourish them
for delivery of healthy babies. 100 grams of fortified rice contains 4.25 mg
iron, 12.5 mg folic acid, 0.125 mg vitamin B12.
It is learnt that 1,36,725 children at 2,565 primary schools and 66,593 children at 391 upper primary schools, 4,021 pregnant women and 90,000 children at 3,621 anganwadi centers would get fortified rice in the district. The officials say 168.678 tonnes rice would be needed for primary schools and 142.384 metric tonnes for upper primary schools. 209.10 tonnes would be allotted to the women and child welfare department.
Rice fortification is the addition of vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health. It can be cooked in the usual ways. Eating it can reduce anemia in young children and pregnant women and keep them healthy. It is also given to overcome malnutrition in young children and women.
District Collector Chevuru Harikiran said the fortified rice was being supplied from this month. He along with Joint Collector (Revenue) Midde Gowthami and Joint Collector (Development) C.M. Saikanth Varma unveiled a poster on the programme.
