It was this success in markets that made the state initiate this programme for PDS and ICDS. As on July 2007, about 6.5 lakh tonnes of wheat flour has been fortified by various flour mills and sold in the open market. One of the studies on the impact assessment of the programme shows that of 602 children, pregnant and lactating mothers fed on fortified flour, 505 showed substantial increase in haemoglobin levels.

How does fortification help in solving malnutrition in children? “One reason why low birth weight prevalence continues to be high is the fact that national programs like ICDS focus on the child. The fact is that the damage is already done when the child is in the womb of an undernourished mother. It is important to break the inter-generational cycle of malnutrition,” said Nanda.

Other states are looking at Gujarat for leads. Haryana and Punjab have invited officials from Gujarat and held a meeting with their Roller Flour Mills Association. “It’s not difficult at all. There is no resistance from any quarter on this. We are working towards making it mandatory in these two states,” said Vinod Kapoor, whose mill has been voluntarily fortifying wheat since 1997 in Chandigarh.

So far, the only two Acts concerning food fortification are fortification of Vanaspati oil with Vitamin D passed in 1953 and fortification of salt with iodine in 2000.

... contd.