Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a fortified flour scheme for poor families of the state to mark the foundation day of his party BJP.
Launching the scheme, Mr. Modi said Gujarat is the first State to develop innovative fortified (or enriched) flour scheme which would help in fighting malnutrition in a big way.
Now, soybean flour will be added to wheat flour to fortify it and provide nutrition and will be given to the eight lakh Antyodaya families and 26 lakh BPL families in the state.
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“Around 1.7 crore people will benefit from the scheme. Each Antyodaya family will be entitled to get a 17.5 kg flour bag at Rs. 38 while each BPL family will get 12.5 kg bag at Rs. 26,” he said, adding the flour has to be used in 45 days.
He added that the fortified flour bags will be distributed from 16,000 public distribution system (PDS) shops spread across the State.
Soybean laden flour will provide additional protein, which is an important component of nutrition, said the Chief Minister.
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According to him, earlier the Gujarat government had launched fortified edible oil scheme which was appreciated by the Planning Commission of India.