Rice Awareness Campaign
Chitradurga
The Joint Director of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has clarified that the rice being supplied through government schemes is not plastic rice, but enriched rice. He appealed to people not to believe in false rumors and misleading messages.
He said the government has introduced enriched rice to fight malnutrition and improve the health of children, women, elderly people and pregnant mothers. This rice is being distributed under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (Akshara Dasoha), Anganwadi nutrition programs and other welfare schemes from May 2022. It is also supplied through fair price shops to reach poor families.
Enriched rice is made from rice flour mixed with important nutrients like iron, folic acid and Vitamin B12. These nutrients are pressed and shaped like normal rice grains so they can mix easily with regular rice. For every quintal of rice, one kilogram of enriched rice is added. This helps increase nutrition without changing daily food habits.
The officer explained that enriched rice may look different from normal rice. It may have a different shine, size and texture. Because of this, some people wrongly think it is plastic rice. He strongly denied this and said enriched rice is not made of plastic or any harmful material. It is completely safe for consumption.
He also explained that enriched rice usually floats when washed in water. Many people throw away the floating rice thinking it is fake. He appealed to women and mothers not to discard it. Instead, they should cook it along with the regular rice as usual.
He added that lack of nutrients in daily food is one of the main reasons for anemia and malnutrition in children and women. The enriched rice program is part of the Government of India’s effort under the National Food Security Act to provide healthier food to the poor.
He requested all beneficiaries to stay calm, not believe rumors, and support this program for better health and nutrition of future generations.