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Food, cash aid for the poor

The aid comes as govt’s Eid gift


Published : 05 Jul 2021 09:52 PM | Updated : 06 Jul 2021 12:53 AM

On the occasion of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Azha, the government will provide 10 kg of rice for free to each of one crore poor, destitute and helpless families under VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) cards.

Meanwhile, in another announcement, the government has allocated Tk7.70 crore and 22,830 tonnes of rice for the people affected by natural disasters and lockdown imposed due to the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

It may be recalled that the government earlier had given various aids, stimuli and facilities to several crore of people since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic in of March last year.

According to sources, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on Sunday issued separate letters to the Director General of Disaster Management with the allocation of rice and money, said Md. Selim Hossain, Senior Information Officer of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. 

As per the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha, the government has allocated 100176.51 tonnes of rice as a gift to poor, destitute and helpless1,00,17,000 families. Each of the families will get 10 kgs of rice free of cost. 

The Ministry also said this rice will be distributed to 87,79,203 families under 492 upazilas in 64 districts and 12,38,448 families under 328 municipalities.

Meanwhile, the government has allocated Tk7.70 crore and 22,830 tonnes of rice for the people who have been walloped by natural disasters and Covid-19 restrictions.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief made the allocation on Sunday.

Around 5,450 metric tonnes of rice and Tk3.01 crore have been allocated for 64 districts in favour of the district administrations; 3,280 tonnes of rice and Tk3.28 crore under 328 municipalities.

Rice and cash will be distributed as aid on a priority basis to unemployed and deprived people, including transport workers, considering the impact of Covid-19 and natural disasters, Md Selim Hossain, senior information officer of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, said.

The eligible people can get food assistance – rice, pulses, salt, oil, potatoes – from the allotment after calling the national helpline 333, he added.

"Also, 14,100 metric tonnes of rice and Tk1.41 crore have been allocated in favour of 64 district administrations to assist the people affected by Covid-19, floods, river erosion and natural calamities," Selim said.

Besides, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will also provide rice, pulse, oil and potatoes if anybody makes phone call on 333 number.

Moreover, another letter of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief said that 14,000 tonnes of rice and Tk 1,41,00,000 have been allocated to the victims of floods and river erosion at different parts of the country.