Porvorim: The Goa government finally broke its silence on allegations of plastic rice being distributed to ration card holders clarifying that this notion is unfounded.
Secretary of Civil Supplies, Sanjit Rodrigues, addressed the issue during a press briefing explaining that the confusion stemmed from miscommunication and misinformation.
“Food Corporation of India procures fortified rice, which is enriched with iron, folic acid, and vitamin B-12. We are distributing the fortified rice under the central sponsored schemes. There is nothing to worry and the reports suggest that there is no plastic rice, and we ready to make it public,” he said.
The Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the recent past introduced the distribution of fortified rice through the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) schemes to combat anemia and micronutrient deficiencies in the country. In line with this, Goa implemented the distribution of fortified rice in 2021-22, initially through Anganwadi workers and subsequently through the PDS in March 2023.
The government will start awareness drive to ensure that is no further confusion
