Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Chowdhary Zulfkar on Friday said that it is the duty of the government to provide sufficient amount of nutrition in the essential commodities to its citizens and government is committed to deliver on this front.Speaking at a sensitization workshop, the Minister said a sizeable population of the state lives below poverty line thereby making it difficult for them to afford nutritional products.“It is the duty of the government to provide sufficient amount of nutrition in the essential commodities like atta and rice to the people, and we duty bond to deliver on it,” the Minister said.He said that the government will look into the possibility of providing fortified atta to each and every household of the state especially BPL families living in rural areas.
The sensitization workshop titled “Wheat Flour Fortification” was organized by Roller Flour Millers Federation (RFMF) of India in collaboration with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) with an aim of promoting nutrition through food fortification.The members of the federation appealed the Minister to include fortified flour in public distribution system and other schemes of the government. The speakers during the workshop revealed the importance of fortification of wheat in the dietary system. The benefits include overall development of the body with prevention of various iron deficient diseases, the speakers said.The Minister also launched Vitamin+ P Mark Fortified Chakki Atta on the occasion in the presence of Secretary to Government, CA&PD Shafiq Ahmed Raina, Director CA&PD Jammu GS Chib, Country Head GAIN Tarun Vij and Vice president Roller Flour Mills Federation of India Sanjay Puri.