Iodine deficiency is the single most common cause of preventable mental retardation and brain damage in the world. It also decreases child survival, causes goiters, and impairs growth and development. Iodine deficiency in pregnant women causes miscarriages, stillbirths, and other complications. Children with IDD can grow up stunted, apathetic, mentally retarded, and incapable of normal movements, speech, or hearing. Iodine is an essential part of the chemical structure of thyroid hormones.
Salt is the best vehicle for adding iodine. Everyone needs salt, everyone eats it, usually in daily amounts, and the technology for iodization is straightforward.
In implementing the above orders, compulsory lifting by all the FP Shop Dealers was mandatory along with other commodities like rice, sugar, K.Oil etc. and the lifting of iodised salt has been linked with the lifting of other commodities @ 1kg per card to the extent of BPL cards compulsorily.
Presently, iodised salt if procured by the AP State Civil Supplies Corporation from both the major salt producers at Tuticorn and Gandhidham for supply of free flow refined iodised salt @ Rs.4.00 per kg and the local manufacturers for supply of crystal iodised salt and powdered iodised salt at Rs.3/- per kg. A quantity of 20010 tonnes of iodised salt has been distributed cumulatively through FP Shops at Rs.4/- per kg till the end of June 2006.
The Civil Supplies Department is also making efforts to supply iodized salt produced in Andhra Pradesh in coordination with the Salt Department, UNICEF, MI and other Organisations / Departments involved in popularizing more usage of iodized salt by the consumers, through District Consumer Information Centres, Mandal Consumer Information Centres, Consumer Clubs etc., and also through using the iodized salt in the Mid Day Meals Scheme by the implementing agencies.
List of Salt manufacturers supplying iodised salt through Public distribution system network.
1. M/s Tamilnadu salt corporation, Chennai.
2. M/s Ankur Chemfood Products (Guj) Ltd., Gujarat.
3. M/s Chenthooran Sodium Pvt.Ltd., Pondicherry.
4. M/s Jagannath salt Manufacturers & Workers Co.op. Production &sales Society Ltd., Allur, Nellore District.
5. M/s Vasavi Women Welfare & Industrial Aided Co,op Society Ltd., Kadapa.
6. M/s Ramkoti &Sons, Chinnaganjam, Prakasham District.
Government of India have issued orders prohibiting “ the sale or offer or expose for sale or have in premises for the purpose of sale. The common salt for direct human consumption unless the same is iodized”. Vide Notification NO. G.S.R.670 (E), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, dated 17th November 2005.
