RAJSHAHI, Aug 24, 2020 (BSS) – Around 32.16 lakh hardest hit and other worst-affected families consisting 1.29 crore people have, so far, received government’s humanitarian assistance to overcome their livelihood related difficulties being triggered by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Rajshahi division.
As part of its continuous humanitarian support to cope with the present pandemic situation, the government has distributed 24,205 tonnes of rice and Taka 15.21 crore in cash among the families in need in the division.
Moinul Islam, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Division, said each of 21,00,119 beneficiary families was given ten kilograms of rice free of cost while another 11,15,697 families got Taka 1,000 each for purchasing baby food and necessary essentials in all eight districts of the division till Saturday.
A total of 804 tonnes of rice and over Taka 10.11 lakh in cash are in the stock at present for distribution, he said.
Apart from this, around 20.18 lakh distressed and vulnerable families consisting 90.80 lakh people have bought rice at reduced price through Open Market Sale (OMS) in the division to mitigate their crisis caused by the pandemic.
The Department of Food has distributed 10,087.99 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 June 30 last.
Regional Controller of Food Raihanul Kabir said the OMS programme had been conducted in city, district headquarters, pourasabha and union levels since April 5 so that people can get rice at a cheap price.
To mitigate the present pandemic situation, the food department has sold 387 tonnes of rice at Taka 30 per kilogram till Sunday since July 12 while around 1,998.98 tonnes of flour at Taka 18 per kilogram under the OMS programme in the division since July 1 last.
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.
Meanwhile, Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has distributed foodstuffs among around 1,000 distressed COVID-19 infected patients in the city areas.
All of the hardest hit-patient families will get the food support at their respective doorsteps in phases.
A total of 3,182 people have tested positive for COVID-19 with 20 fatalities in Rajshahi city areas till Saturday last.
It has also distributed 1,394.85 tonnes of rice, Taka 48.12 lakh in cash and 145 cartons of baby food among the badly virus affected families as part of the government aid to handle the present troubled situation.
Besides, the city corporation has also distributed 239.80 tonnes of rice among 31,324 people of 157 organizations as the gift of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and as a part of the government’s instant humanitarian support to relieve the livelihood related hardship.