Govt distributes 3,35,443 tonnes of rice among poor, disaster-hit people

The interim government has so far distributed over 3,35,443 tonnes of rice among the extreme poor and disaster-affected people.

Under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, about 2,03,798 tonnes of rice was distributed among the destitute and extreme poor people aiming to mitigate disaster risk by ensuring their food security, according to an official document obtained by BSS.

The rice was distributed among 1.76 crore families in the last two Eids with each family receiving 10kg of rice in each Eid.

Under the relief programme, the ministry distributed 1,31,645 tonnes of rice among the poor and insolvent families immediately after they faced natural disasters. Each affected family got 10-30kg of rice for one time.

In addition, as part of the relief activities, the ministry distributed over Tk29.18 crore in cash among the disaster-hit families. Each family of the persons who died in disasters or accidents got Tk10,000-25,000, while each injured person got Tk5,000-15,000 for treatment.

Maximum Tk7,500 was distributed to each family affected by natural disasters.

The government has allocated Tk1,504.5 crore under the Employment Generation Programme for the Poorest (EGPP). The programme is underway at 340 Upazilas of 51 districts in the country.

Besides, the ministry allocated over Tk41 crore to distribute warm clothes among the underprivileged people affected by cold during winter. Of the amount, Tk19 crore was spent by distributing blankets among them.

The government allocated Tk76.4 crore to provide assistance to destitute freedom fighters, disabled and extreme poor people to help them build their houses. It also allocated Tk28 crore as house grants.

A total of Tk20 crore was provided to buy food for the babies affected by natural disasters. Of the amount, Tk3 crore was spent.

In addition, the ministry allocated Tk20 crore to buy fodder for the families hit by the natural disasters. Of the amount, Tk3 crore was spent, too.

It also allocated Tk45 crore to procure dry food items so that those could be distributed among families immediately after any natural disaster hit. A total of Tk44.8 crore was spent to this end.

The government distributed Tk4.8 crore in cash among the flood-affected people.

Besides, under its food for work programme, the ministry conducted various rural infrastructure repair works, including rural road construction, rural road repair, construction of drains, culverts, earth filling on grounds of schools, colleges and madrasahs, and construction of boundary walls of schools, colleges, madrasahs and orphanages.

Under the rural infrastructure maintenance programme, embankment and road maintenance works were conducted; drains and canals were restored; religious, education and public welfare-centric institutions were repaired; sanitary latrines were set up; bamboo or wooden bridges were installed; laptops and multimedia projectors were supplied to educational institutions; solar street lights and solar home systems were installed; and lightning arresters and lightning sheds were established.