The Tamil Nadu government and Tata Trusts inaugurated today an iodised salt refinery for production of double fortified salt (DFS) aimed at tackling anaemia concerns in the State.
The DFS produced at the refinery is expected to improve the blood iron levels of the consumers. It will be distributed through the public distribution system (PDS), anganwadis, primary health centres and the mid-day meals at schools, a press release said.
Initially, DFS will be supplied to mothers, both expectant and new, children and adolescents through the government welfare programme and later through the PDS. The salt refinery can produce 50,000-60,000 tonnes of DFS a year. Har Sahay Meena, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation (TNSC), said in a press release, “Iron fortified iodised salt will help the people of Tamil Nadu, specifically women and children in physical and cognitive development.”
Thanks to the mid-day meal scheme, the State witnessed a drop in anaemia cases from 64.2 per cent to 50.7 per cent between 1993 and 2016.
Tata Trustswill assist TNSC in manufacturing and making DFS available to fair price stores and cooperatives. A proposal for Tata Trusts to operate and manage the plant is under the consideration of the government.
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