India
Union Cabinet meets: What are the three most important decisions announced by the government | India News – Times of India
This initiative, which aims to reduce this anemia And micronutrient deficiencies among the population, will entail an amount of Rs 17,082 crore, borne entirely by the central government.
“Today, the Cabinet approved continuation of supply of free fortified rice under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare schemes from July 2024 to December 2028. This is expected to reduce anemia and micronutrient deficiencies. The total financial implication will be Rs 17,082 Cr and 100% financing will come from the central government,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said at the press conference.
The implementation of this program is expected to have a significant impact on health and wellbeing, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had in April 2022 decided to implement the rice fortification initiative across India in a phased manner, with the aim 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, shows that anemia is a widespread problem in India, affecting people of all ages and income levels. In addition to iron deficiency, deficiencies in other vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12 and folic acid, also persist, negatively impacting the overall health and productivity of the population.
Food fortification is widely used as a safe and effective way to address anemia and micronutrient malnutrition in vulnerable populations. Rice is an ideal way to provide micronutrients in India as it is a staple food for 65 percent of the population.
The process of rice fortification involves adding fortified rice grains (FRK), which are fortified with micronutrients (iron, folic acid, vitamin B12) as per the standards prescribed by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), to plain rice (custom milled rice). rice).
Vaishnaw further informed that 27 NABL laboratories will be used for FRK testing to ensure the quality of the fortified rice and 11 NABL laboratories will be used for testing vitamin-mineral premixes. An investment of Rs 11,000 crore has been made to develop the supply chain for this initiative.
The cabinet also announced the development of a National Maritime Heritage Complex in Gujrat’s Lothal, which is expected to generate employment for around 22,000. The NMHC will be developed in several phases.
The development of the NMHC will benefit various stakeholders, including local communities, tourists, visitors, researchers, scientists, government agencies, educational institutions, cultural organizations, environmental and conservation groups and businesses.
The government further said that architectural firm Architect Hafeez Contractor has prepared the master plan for the NMHC and Tata Projects Ltd has been selected for the construction of phase 1A.
Phase 1A will include the NMHC Museum, which will house six galleries, including an Indian Navy and Coast Guard gallery expected to be one of the largest in the country. Phase 2 of the project includes pavilions of coastal states, a catering zone, a recreation of the ancient city of Lothal, a Maritime Institute with a hostel and four theme parks.
“Today, the Cabinet has approved that a National Maritime Heritage Complex will be developed at Lothal in Gujarat… The proposal aims to showcase the rich and diverse maritime heritage and create the largest maritime heritage complex in the world,” said the Union Minister.
Moreover, the government also approved construction of 2,280 km of roads along the border areas of Rajasthan and Punjab.
“PM Modi has emphasized on infrastructure development in border areas. Today, the Cabinet approved construction of 2,280 km of roads with an investment of Rs 4,406 crore in the border areas of Rajasthan and Punjab,” Vaishnaw said.
