ZCZC
BSS-22
RICE-DISTRIBUTION
Public holidays delay rice distribution to extreme poor
DHAKA, Sept 4, 2018 (BSS) – Although the Food Department officially announced launching of rice distribution to the extreme poor families on Sept 1, it would not be possible before September 10, said a top official here today.
“The rice distribution under the food friendly programme officially began on Sept 1, but weekly and public holidays have caused the delay,” said Md Arifur Rahman Apu, Director General of the Department of Food.
“We have asked the dealers to take their rice consignment within Sept 10 for frequent distribution …even the RC (regional controller of food) has been asked to disburse the rice among the dealers as soon as possible,” said the DG.
Some 50 lakh families or 2.50 crore people will get 30-kg rice monthly at Taka 10 per kg for three consecutive months.
“The government has allocated 7.50 lakh tonnes of rice for 2018-2019 fiscal year under the programme… some 1.50 lakh tonne will be distributed monthly,” he said.
In addition to this, the DG said the government with the assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP) will distribute fortified rice among 1,21159 families of 10 upazilas in the country.
The upazilas are Kurigram Sadar and Phulbari, Keraniganj, Kaliganj, Moksudpur, Faridpur Sadar, Sarail, Bijoynagar, Ramganj and Bamna.
The fortified rice contains vitamin A, B1, B12, Folic Acid, Iron and zinc and each one kilogram rice to be mixed with 100 kilogram of normal rice for effective nutrition supply from the staple food consumption, said Parimal Chandra Sarker, Director (Supply, Distribution and Marketing) of the Food Department.
“The distribution of the fortified rice will fulfill the nutrition deficiency and protect the people from vitamin and iron deficiencies like anemia, scurvy and beriberi diseases,” said the official.
Terming the program as very significant, the food department official said, “The government has a plan to implement the programme across the country. But now we are piloting the program initially at 10 districts and upazilas.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the programme in 2016 by inaugurating rice distribution among the poor at Chilmari upazila under Kurigram district on September 7 in 2016.
Every poor family will get 30-kg rice for five months in a year under the programme— in March and April and from September to November.
More than 10,000 dealers are being involved in the rice distribution programme.
BSS/OG/BR/1815