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BHUBANESWAR: Taking the battle against iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in the general population to a higher level, the State Government is all set to supply iodised salt through PDS. The Health and Family Welfare and the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare departments are working together to finalise the modalities. The processes are in the advanced stages and if everything moves in the right direction, BPL, APL and Antodaya Yojana beneficiaries could avail iodised salt along with other commodities supplied through PDS during the ensuing 2012-13 fiscal. Every beneficiary household would be provided with two kg of iodised salt per month. The guidelines for quality standards of the salt, procurement and supply has been readied by Health Department and would be given a final shape in coordination with Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department. The sticking point, however, is who would shoulder the responsibility of procurement. The Departments are yet to come to a decision on that though both are keen to introduce iodised salt in the PDS system at the earliest. Discussions at the Secretary level are scheduled to be held soon to finalise the matter, sources said. Currently, nine states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chattishgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand have included iodised salt in the PDS system. In Orissa, the salt is proposed to be sold at a meagre 50 paise per kg to ensure acceptance of the masses, thereby leading to universalisation of salt iodisation. As per market prices, ordinary iodised salt is available for a minimum of Rs 5.50 while refined iodised salt comes for Rs 6.50 a kg. There would be a subsidy of Rs 5 per kg of the ordinary variety and Rs 6 on the refined variety of the salt. The move would drive the State’s efforts to curb the high incidence of IDDs in the population. Though Orissa has banned use and sale of non-iodised common salt under the National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme (NIDDCP), it is still struggling to control IDDs. Iodine deficiency is among the major causes of preventable brain retardation, malformed foetuses and stillbirth. It causes hyperthyroidism and goitre along with motor and speech problems. Only one teaspoon of iodine consumed in tiny amounts on a regular basis over a lifetime can prevent IDDs. Over 36 percent of the population still consumes non-iodised salt. There are around 17 districts endemic to IDDs with the ones like Malkangiri even reporting prevalence of one in every two persons. “People would be more inclined to avail the salt supply as a monthly ration due to the low prices. With mass off-take, the objectives of universalisation of iodised salt can be achieved”, nodal officer for NIDDCP Orissa M Beura said.
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