Despite availability of technology, Government aids and low cost (Rs four per ton), India still needs political courage to ensure 100 per cent wheat flour fortification. Surprisingly, Gujarat is the only state where unfortified wheat flour is not available.

The Gujarat Government has achieved this target within one year of the announcement of the policy.

Shashi Prabha Gupta, Technical Advisor with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, said, “Gujarat has emerged as a model state because of political will. Nobody can sell unfortified wheat flour in Gujarat. But the Union Government has no plan to bring in any legislation in this regard in near future.”

The Government only provides a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh or 25 per cent of the cost of project (whichever is less) for technology upgradation of roller flour mills. The other state Governments have no immediate plans to make it mandatory either.

General Secretary, Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, Veena Sharma said, “The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is boasting about the financial assistance, but it is not entertaining fresh applications. The ministry is yet to settle the previous cases under the scheme.”