Principal Secretary/Commissioner Food Safety, UT Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal reviewed  progress made towards providing fortified food grains in Ladakh.

As per the National Family Health Survey-5; more than 90 percent of children and women (under different age groups) in Ladakh have been found to be anaemic. To fight this health condition caused mainly by iron deficiency due to the limited availability of fresh vegetables/fruits in Ladakh, the Administration is making efforts to provide fortified grains viz rice, wheat and fortified oil, salt, milk, etc to supplement the deficit nutrients.

The chair was informed that approximately 9417 tons of wheat are distributed through FCS&CA annually which will be first fortified at identified mills in each of the districts and then distributed to all ration card holders.

Principal Secretary gave directions for the immediate purchase of the fortification machinery and urged the Director Food Civil Supplies & Public Distribution (FSC&A) Ladakh to ensure FSSAI standards are maintained at all times and regular inspections be conducted.

The Principal Secretary stated that the Administration of UT Ladakh is making all possible efforts to ensure an anemia-free Ladakh, with the fortification of foods being one of the ways forward.

Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Yetindra M. Maralkar, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, ADs FCS&CA Leh and Kargil, Deputy Lead Food Fortification Division FSSAI, Ladakh and other concerned officials attended the meeting.