RAJSHAHI, June 25, 2020 (BSS) – As part of its nonstop humanitarian support to tackle the present crisis triggered by COVID-19 pandemic, the government has, so far, distributed 30,654 tonnes of rice and around Taka 14.03 crore in cash among the families in need in Rajshahi division.
Around 43.95 lakh jobless and hardest hit families consisting 1.98 crore people have received the government’s humanitarian aid till Wednesday to mitigate their livelihood related troubled situation in all eight districts of the division since the pandemic began.
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir Khandaker said 18,13,660 families were given 10 kilograms of rice each while another 9,18,070 families got Taka 1,000 each for baby food purposes and necessary other expenses.
A total of 2,892 tonnes of rice and over TK 1.75 crore in cash are in the stock at present for distribution in line with the government’s efforts to reach foodstuffs among all hardest hit people, he added.
Besides, around 16.63 lakh distressed and other less-incoming families consisting around 74.83 lakh people have, so far, received Open Market Sale (OMS) rice in the division to overcome their crisis caused by the pandemic.
The Department of Food has distributed 8,314.30 tonnes of rice at Taka 10 per kilogram under the government’s OMS programme through 116 appointed dealers in all eight districts in the division till Tuesday last.
Regional Controller of Food Raihanul Kabir said the OMS programme is being conducted in city, district headquarter, pourashava and union levels since April 5 last to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
Around 13,322.93 tonnes of flour have also been distributed at TK 18 per kilogram among the families in need through 48 dealers under the OMS programme in the division till Wednesday.
Another 1,38,858.02 tonnes of rice have, so far, been distributed among 7,73,026 enlisted poor and extreme poor households under the government’s “Food Friendly Programme”.
Apart from this, 4,500 tonnes of rice are also being distributed among the needy families 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.
With its own initiative, Rajshahi City Corporation has, so far, distributed various types of foodstuffs including 325.33 tonnes of rice, 58.68 tonnes of pulse, 58.45 tonnes of potato, 15.08 tonnes of flour, 17 tonnes of fine and aromatic rice, 11.2 tonnes of sugar, 11,250 packets of vermicelli, 39 tonnes of pumpkin and 4.52 tonnes of spinach to tackle the pandemic situation.
It has also distributed 1,394.85 tonnes of rice, Taka 48.12 lakh in cash and 145 cartons of baby food among the families in need as part of the government humanitarian assistance to cope with the present troubled situation, said city Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.