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Wednesday,16-July-2025
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Yogi govt to tackle malnutrition with fortified rice

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The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to start distribution of fortified rice all over the state in the next one year through Public Distribution System (PDS), to address anaemia and deficiency of micro-nutrients in women and children.

Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies, Sorabh Babu, said: “Fortified rice is being distributed in Chandauli district and Sewapuri block of Varanasi district. In other districts of the state, fortified rice is being distributed in mid-day meals and ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme).

“Taking it to a larger population and to tackle malnutrition, the state government will start the distribution through Targeted PDS (TPDS) in 60 high burden and aspirational districts of the state,” he added.

The state government is preparing an action plan in this regard. By April 2023, it plans to cover the entire TPDS scheme and start distribution to 15 crore beneficiaries of the state.

The Centre’s scheme of distribution of rice fortified with three nutrients (iron, folate, and vitamin B12) has started in Chandauli district on a pilot basis and was launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on January 9, 2021.

Malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients in poor women and poor children pose major obstacles in their development.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) defines fortification as “deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food so as to improve the nutritional quality of food and to provide public health benefits with minimal risk to health”.

Rice fortification is a process of adding micronutrients to regular rice using extrusion technology. This involves the production of fortified rice kernels (FRK) from a mixture using an extruder machine. The fortified rice kernels are then blended with regular rice or non-fortified rice, typically at a ratio of 1:100 to produce fortified rice.

The benefits of fortified rice include reduction in anaemia, increased levels of haemoglobin, vitamin B12, zinc, and multiple micronutrients.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Coastal Road Project: BMC Invites Tenders For Managing Underground Parking At Worli’s Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk

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Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has invited tenders for the operation, maintenance, and management of the underground parking facility at Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk, developed as part of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project. Out of the four proposed facilities, two located in Worli have been completed and are expected to become operational by the end of July. Each of these Worli facilities has a capacity of approximately 200 vehicles.

The four underground parking facilities being constructed are located at: Bhulabhai Desai Marg (south side of Tata Garden) with a capacity of 250 vehicles; Haji Ali (near Lotus Jetty), which is the largest with a capacity of 1,200 vehicles; Worli Dairy with a capacity of 200 vehicles; and Worli Seaface (opposite Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk), also with a capacity of 200 vehicles. According to an official from the Coastal Road Department, mechanical and electrical works are currently underway at the facilities. These facilities will be handed over to the G South Ward office after completion. 

“The parking facility in Worli will ease congestion for those who currently park along Worli Sea Face, as well as for visitors to the coastal promenade that will soon be open to the public,” the official added.

BMC Revises Plans For Underground Parking Facility At Haji Ali

The BMC has also revised the plans for the proposed underground parking facility at Haji Ali, increasing its structure from two storeys to four. Under the original plan, the Haji Ali facility was designed to accommodate 1,200 cars. The revised design now includes space for 1,069 cars and 70 buses, offering a more versatile and high-capacity solution for the area. A tender for this project will be floated soon. Once awarded, the construction is expected to take approximately two years to complete. 

Meanwhile, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has been tasked with developing 53 hectares of reclaimed open space under a Rs. 400-crore Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funded project. Landscape designs will be submitted for approval as per Coastal Regulation Zone norms and Supreme Court directives. 

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Crime

Mumbai Shocker: Stepfather Arrested For Murder Of Missing 4-Year-Old Girl From Antop Hill; Body Found In Colaba

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Mumbai: In a chilling turn of events, the Mumbai Police on Tuesday arrested Imran Shaikh, the stepfather of four-year-old Amaira Shaikh, in connection with her murder. The child had gone missing from her residence in Antop Hill on the night of July 14 and her body was recovered from the Colaba sea coast the next morning.

Police Suspected Stepfather Over Girl’s Disappearance

Amaira was reported missing by her mother, Nazia, who had gone to the Antop Hill police station to lodge a complaint. However, as the investigation progressed, suspicion grew around Imran’s role in the child’s disappearance. Imran, also known as Immu, had taken Amaira with him the night she went missing and had been unreachable since, with his phone switched off.

Body Found Near Sassoon Dock

Amaira lived with her mother and stepfather in the Bengali Pura area of Rajiv Nagar in Antop Hill. Nazia, who has been previously married twice, was currently in her third marriage with Imran. On the night of July 14, after failing to locate Amaira despite searching extensively, Nazia approached the police. The next morning, Colaba police received an alert about a child’s body found floating near Sassoon Dock. The body, later confirmed to be Amaira’s, was sent to St. George Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Initially, the Antop Hill police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR), but with Imran absconding, suspicions deepened. Using physical identifiers from the missing person’s report, Colaba police confirmed the identity of the deceased. Cops now believe that Amaira may have been murdered and her body dumped into the sea.

Following this development, police intensified efforts to trace Imran. After going off the radar briefly, he was arrested on Tuesday. Authorities are now focusing on uncovering the motive behind the brutal crime and piecing together the exact sequence of events leading to the child’s death.

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Maharashtra

Senior Maharashtra Official and Former Minister Caught in Honey Trap: Complaint Filed but Investigation Still Incomplete

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Mumbai, October 1, 2023 – A sensational case of a honey trap involving a senior officer and former minister in Maharashtra has come to light, with allegations that they were ensnared by women. A complaint has been registered in this matter, but the status of the investigation remains unclear.

According to reports, the former minister and a senior government official are accused of being trapped by several women, leading to difficulties in both their personal and professional lives. Complainants allege that these officials were influenced by the allure of women, leading to the acquisition of sensitive information.

However, despite the case reaching the police, the pace of the investigation has been slow. Sources indicate that there has been no significant progress in the case, even after the identification of the officials, raising several questions. Many believe that political pressure could be a factor in slowing down the proceedings.

In this context, a local social activist stated that such cases should be thoroughly investigated to uncover the truth. He also emphasized the need to hold those in power accountable in these matters to prevent future incidents of honey traps.

The city’s police have yet to issue any official statement on the matter. This incident has sparked a stir across Maharashtra and is reverberating in political circles as well.

Concerns are being raised that if a thorough investigation is not conducted, it could undermine the public’s trust in the government. More updates on this case are expected in the coming days as the police department takes concrete steps toward the investigation.

This incident in Maharashtra’s politics has not only sparked discussion about security but also highlighted the need for awareness about issues like honey traps.

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