Government today expressed serious concern over the growing Iodine Deficiency Disorders in the country.Inaugurating a workshop on National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme in New Delhi Minister of state for Health and family Welfare S Gandhiselvan said there is need to spread awareness amongst the masses about the ill effects of iodine deficiency.AIR Correspondent Sumita Yadav reports that almost 49 percent of India's population does not have access to iodised salt. More than 200 million people are at risk of suffering from iodine deficiency disorder and about 71 million people already suffer from IDD. Pregnant women and children are the most adversely affected by the deficiency. Almost fifty percent children born every year suffer from brain damage and have severly depleted levels of productivity due to this deficiency. It also decreases fertility, increases mortality, impairs mental development and physical growth. Iodine Deficiency Disorders are easily preventable through adequate consumption of iodised salt. Today on the occasion of Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Day, let us take a pledge to join the efforts made by the government in spreading awareness about the importance of iodised salt.