A substantial population in Jharkhand was found suffering with anaemia, but were also found to be prone to blood illnesses such as thalassemia and sickle-cell anaemia. As per experts, fortified rice is leading to these side effects amongst Adivasis.
A multidisciplinary fact-finding team of NGOs, including medical experts, has concluded that the Union government's scheme to allocate subsidized iron-fortified rice might very well do more damage than good to Adivasis, or indigenous populations, who struggle from sickle-cell anaemia and thalassemia and are genetically prone to these diseases.
To combat hunger and poor health outcomes among a wide segment of the population, the Union Cabinet approved a plan on April 8 to deliver fortified rice through government-run food programs, including to 800 million recipients under the public distribution system, reports Hindustan Times.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise during his 2021 Independence Day speech that his go...