Passover is upon us and as usual, the country is celebrating with a lot of fruit.
The government is launching a fresh crop plan that includes fresh fruits and vegetables for consumption.
The plan, which is expected to be rolled out over the next couple of months, is expected be rolled-out over 10 days, reports The Hindu.
The new plan will be introduced on December 2 and will consist of 12 items, each of which has a nutritional value of ₹15 per kg.
The products will be manufactured and distributed through vending machines.
“This is the first time that the government has decided to offer fresh fruits, vegetables and dried fruits for consumption,” Anil Kumar, Secretary, Health, Food and Panchayati Raj, told NDTV.
The package will cost ₂100 for a 12-pack and ₳200 for a 1-pack.
These prices will be applicable to households that cannot afford fresh fruits.
According to the department of health, the plan will help in the promotion of healthy eating, and will help with the alleviation of malnutrition and food insecurity in the country.
According a spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration, a packaged food product that has the nutritional value at least ₵2,000 can be considered as a nutritional supplement, and hence eligible for approval by the FDA.
The plan is being developed by a consortium of food companies, who will provide the products at various locations, including food distribution hubs.
The packaging for the fresh fruits is expected in the next few weeks, said Kumar.
According the Food Security Act, India has one of the highest rates of food insecurity and malnutrition in the world.
With the introduction of a new scheme, the government is hoping to help those in need and the economy in the long run.
The goal is to get the population to eat healthy, but the plan has been criticised for not providing adequate nutritional supplements.
