RANGPUR, Nov 21, 2019 (BSS) – The food-friendly program effectively turned out to be beneficial for 8.47-lakh poor families by providing them with 30 kg of rice per month at Taka 10 per kg for September, October and November months in Rangpur division.
“Under the program, 76,233 tonnes of rice was sold at Taka 10 per kg among 8.47-lakh card holder families during the lean periods in these three months in Rangpur division,’ Rangpur Regional Controller of Food Mohammad Raihanul Kabir.
Every card holder family purchased 30 kg of rice at Taka 10 per kg every month for September, October and November in the second phase and for March and April in the first phase earlier this year.
“We have just completed selling of rice at Taka 10 per kg for three months in the second phase during the three-month lean periods,” he said adding that 25,411 tonnes of rice was sold every month to card holder families.
The food friendly program is running smoothly since it was launch by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on September 7 in 2016 under the social safety net scheme bringing relief to the poor during five-month lean periods annually.
Through 1,473 appointed village ration dealers, the Department of Food sold the rice among eight lakh 47 thousand and 43 card holder beneficiary families of 534 unions under all 58 upazilas in eight districts of Rangpur division.
“The sale of rice at Taka 10 per kg was conducted under strict supervision of government officials, food officials, higher authorities and grassroots’ level public representatives,” Kabir said.
Talking to BSS, farm-labourer Rashida Begum of village Ramjibon in Saddyapuskorini union of Rangpur Sadar upazila said she received 30 kg of rice thrice recently to meet food demand of her family comprising of four members.
Farm-labourers Golapi Begum and Anwar Hossain of Keshobpur Pashchimpara village in the union said they got 30 kg of rice every month at Taka 10 per kg and feed their family members in September, October and November.
Jamuna Rani and Shyamol Chandra Shanti Rani, both of them poor of village Gangadas Baraipara in Haridebpur union of Rangpur Sadar upazila said they got 30 kg of rice each at Taka 10 per kg for three months recently.
Farm-laborer Shyamol Chandra, of the same village expressed his happiness getting 30 kg of rice thrice in September, October and November at Taka 10 per kg to feed his family members.
Day-labourers Mahfuza and Sohagi of Chandanpat union in Rangpur Sadar upazila said they got 30 kg of rice every month for three months recently which helped them to meet the food demand of their family members.
Chairman of Chandanpat union Amenur Rahman said the Department of Food sold 165.33 tonnes of rice among 1,837 card holder families in his union through dealers with 30 kg of rice every month at Taka 10 per kg.
Chairman of Haridebpur union Iqbal Hossain said 209.25 tonnes of rice was sold among 2,325 card holder families in his union with 30 kg of rice at Taka 10 per kg for each family every month.
Saddyapuskorini union Chairman Sohel Rana said the Department of Food sold 183.15 tonnes of rice among 2,035 card holder families in his union with 30 kg of rice for each family for September, October and November in the second phase this year.