RAJSHAHI, June 26, 2020 (BSS) – Around 44.77 lakh jobless and other worst-affected families consisting 2.01 crore people have, so far, received relief support to overcome their livelihood related difficulties triggered by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Rajshahi division. The government, as part of its continuous humanitarian support to handle the present troubled situation, has distributed 31,635.47 tonnes of rice and over Taka 14.28 crore in cash among the families in need in all eight districts under the division.
Humayun Kabir Khandaker, Commissioner of Rajshahi Division, 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 till Thursday since the pandemic began. A total of 2,324 tonnes of rice and over TK 1.50 crore in cash are in the stock at present for distribution in line with the government’s relentless efforts of reaching foodstuffs among all hardest hit people, he added.
Besides, around 17.46 lakh distressed and vulnerable families consisting around 78.56 lakh people have, so far, received Open Market Sale (OMS) rice in the division to mitigate their crisis caused by the pandemic.
The Department of Food has distributed 8,728.47 tonnes of rice at Taka 10 per kilogram under the government’s OMS programme through 158 appointed dealers in all eight districts in the division till Thursday 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 13,374.92 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 the same day.
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.
Rajshahi City Corporation has, so far, distributed 1,394.85 tonnes of rice, Taka 48.12 lakh in cash and 145 cartons of baby food among the badly affected families as part of the government humanitarian assistance to handle the present troubled situation, said Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton. With its own initiative, the corporation has also distributed various types of foodstuffs like 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.