<span style="color: #222222;">Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey said that all beneficiaries in the country would get fortified rice. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Briefing the media today after his review meeting with the officials of CAF&PD, FCI, Forest Department, CWC and BIS at Guwahati, Mr Choubey said that to mitigate the anaemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country, the Centre would supply Fortified rice through public distribution system within 2024 to all the beneficiaries.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, forest cover is growing in Assam rapidly and rest of the nation should learn from it. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, healthy environment is a necessity as air pollution is turning into a major health hazard and protection of forest is a must for our future.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Choubey appreciated the initiative of the Assam government to burn the seized or recovered 2,479 horns of world fame one-horned rhinos in a bid to bust the myth related to it on 22nd September which are stockpiled in government treasuries across the state. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He informed that earlier Assam had 5246 elephants and the number has increased to 5719. The number of tigers also rose to 190 from 70. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Minister especially lauded the efforts of the State Government for protecting the Rhinos. He said that the population of Rhinos has increased considerably over the years.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Union Minister also said that state government should prepare grounds for developing sports environment among forest officials and forest protection forces.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Choubey said that many new steps are underway to protect the wildlife in Assam. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Minister will be visiting Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to review the progress in these States</span><br />