UP’s plan to scale up rice fortification
Lucknow: Chief secretary D S Mishra held a meeting with country director of the World Food Programme, Elisabeth Faure on Thursday. The two reportedly held discussions on three major issues, which included fortified rice, grain dispensing Annapurti and take home ration (THR) units.
Mishra informed Faure that the state had managed to scale up rice fortification and a community awareness drive on the importance and availability of the rice was being carried out. The information being given out through these drives includes details of the nutritional value and quality of fortified rice.
Meanwhile, Faure said three Annapurti solution facilities have been set up and WFP would be supporting installation of five more as per the request of the food and civil supplies department. It was discussed during the meeting that UP would increase the Annapurti centres, which work like food dispensing ATMs, to 100 locations across the state.
She further informed the chief secretary that during her field visits, she had learnt about new blended fortified THR being well accepted by the community and was also providing employment opportunities to women. There are 134 operational THR units covering 320 blocks of the state and the plan is to bring the entire state within their reach. Faure said WFP would soon be piloting a solar power installation in one of the THR units.
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