RAJSHAHI, May 3, 2020 (BSS) – More than 51.44 lakh people of 11.43 lakh daily wage earning and hand-to-mouth families have, so far, received relief materials to minimize the present adverse impact of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Rajshahi division.
Humayun Kabir Khandaker, commissioner of Rajshahi division, said the beneficiary families were given 10 kilograms of rice each as a part of the government’s instant humanitarian support to mitigate the livelihood related hardship in all eight districts in the division till 8 am today.
He said a total of 12,111.68 tonnes of rice have, so far, been distributed among the families in need.
Another Taka 6.77 crore in cash was also distributed among 6,21,377 families for purchasing baby food and other necessary expenses in the division. Besides, more 2,521.47 tonnes of rice and over Taka 1.52 crore in cash are in stock at present for distribution.
Besides, 4,500 tonnes of rice is being distributed among the families in need under the Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) Programme. Each of 1.5 lakh beneficiary families is getting 30 kilograms of rice every month free of cost.
All the upazila administrations in close-coordination with the local government institutions are distributing the rice.
Various other institutions, organizations and volunteers are distributing foodstuffs among the distressed families in the region.
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has disbursed 60,000 kilograms of rice among 9,172 badly affected members of 33 professional bodies in Rajshahi city to tackle the present adverse impact of the pandemic very recently.
RCC Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said another 21,000 jobless and other low-income families were brought under the emergency food support in the city areas to minimize their hardship as a gift of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Around 20,000 less-income families in Rajshahi city were given food assistance to overcome the tough situation.
Liton said each of the beneficiary households was given 10 kilograms of rice and 500 grams of pulse.