Administrative Secretary, Yatinder M. Maralkar inaugurates training cum orientation for wheat fortification and examines flour mills.

Leh, July 12: Administrative Secretary, Foods, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, UT Ladakh Yatinder M. Maralkar (IAS) inaugurated the practical training cum orientation program on fortification of wheat, and inspected the Kangri Flour Mill at Chushot Gongma and Rajat Flour Mill, Phyang, Leh.
The Administration Secretary inspected the flour mills and urged the millers to maintain the capacity, quantity, and quality on daily basis to check iron, folic acid, and vitamin B 12 content. He also urged the millers to maintain and adjust the machineries as per the parameters and standards of Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The Secretary emphasised the importance of fortified wheat, and importance of all nutrients as per FSSAI standards and parameters. Maralkar also impressed upon the concerned officials to ensure quality and quantity assurance of fortified flour products. He directed the technical support team, officials of Food Safety and Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution and the millers to ensure micronutrients be present in the fortified flour.
Wheat flour fortification is a food-based approach to improve the micronutrient status of populations that can be integrated with other interventions to increase the consumption of vitamin and minerals and prevent micronutrient malnutrition and its consequences. Fortification of industrially processed-wheat flour, when appropriately implemented, is an effective strategy for supplying vitamins and minerals to the diets of large segments of the population, administration secretary stated.
The mandatory enrichment of flour with B vitamins, iron and folic acid is a foundation of India’s fortification program aimed at helping to prevent nutrient deficiencies and maintain or improve the nutritional quality of the food supply, Maralkar added.
A detailed orientation cum practical training on fortified products, strategies for addressing micronutrient deficiencies and to maintain the records was made by trainer from Central Food Technological Research Institute, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CFTRI-CSIR) and technical support by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) engaged by the Department.
The practical training cum orientation was organized by Food Safety, Ladakh in collaboration with Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution, Ladakh.
The practical training cum orientation program was attended by Swaran Singh (Deputy Secretary) Foods, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Ladakh; Ruth Mary (Additional Director) Foods, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Ladakh; Tamchos Gurmeet (Assistant Commissioner) Food Safety, Ladakh & concerned officers of FSSAI officials, Ladakh; and Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution (CAPD) and officials of GAIN and KHPT.
On the occasion, administrative Secretary Malarkar also informed that UT Administration has successfully considered representation to provide ration to lower rank government employees under priority households (PHHs) as per Ladakh Food Security Rules under the National Food Security Act of 2013.