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Podcast: In Focus by The Hindu
Episode: Why is artificial rice being distributed through India’s public distribution system? | In Focus podcast
Description: India’s public distribution system – its ration shops – through which subsidised food grains are distributed to the poor is the largest such welfare programme in the world. It is a lifeline that saves millions from hunger. But for the past few years, the Union government has been running pilot projects where fortified rice --- rice enhanced with iron and vitamins – is being distributed instead of natural grains. The reason given by the government for this switch is that it will reduce anaemia in the population. But a great number of the poor – especially the adivasi communities – do not like it...