PANAJI
The State government will distribute leaflets disseminating information related to the pros and cons of fortified rice to whoever purchases it from fair-price shops, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.
He said, the information will also include a warning that consumption of fortified rice is not advisable for Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients and will be in English, Konkani and Marathi.
Sawant was responding to a query raised by Congress’ Aldona MLA, Carlos Alvares-Ferreira, who said that FSSAI has issued a statutory warning regarding the adverse effects of consuming fortified rice, which is distributed through fair price shops, by patients of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell.
Alvares Ferreira had raised the issue during question hour on Friday but Civil Supplies Minister Ravi Naik kept insisting that there were no complaints from anywhere in Goa about the fortified rice sold through the PDS system.
Sawant intervened when Alvares Ferreira raised concern whether the PDS beneficiaries availing of the fortified rice were aware of the statutory warning issued by FSSAI.
Sawant also said that if such patients inform the government, provision to provide them with regular rice will be made.
