RAJSHAHI, March 5, 2018 (BSS) – More than 7.73 lakh extreme poor families
in all eight districts under Rajshahi division have started getting rice at a
rate of Taka 10 per kilogram (kg) since Sunday last.
The selected card holders will get 30 kilograms of rice in every month
through village ration dealers at a rate of Taka 10 per kg under the ‘Food
Friendly Programme for the Ultra Poor.
Requisite number of village ration dealers has already been appointed at
all unions of the division to sell the rice, said Md Muniruzzaman, Regional
Controller of Food in Rajshahi, while talking to BSS here on Monday. “We will
distribute 2.31 lakh metric tons of rice through 1,329 dealers,” he added.
The government wants to provide food support to the extreme poor families
during the crisis period so that they do not suffer for food crisis. At the
same time, the government’s election pledge to decrease rice price at Taka 10
per kg can be fulfilled with the decision, he added.
For every 500 families, a village ration dealer has been appointed for
distributing the rice smoothly while the widows and physically challenged
people will get priority in the programme.
The food controller also said the rice selling programme at Taka 10 per kg
will continue for two months of March to April.
The months have been selected in view of non-availability of work for the
day-labourers, he added.
Simultaneously, Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice and flour has also been
launched everywhere in the division. Some 108 dealers including 30 in
Rajshahi are selling the goods.
He, however, vowed to take punitive measures against those who will engage
in any irregularities during the programme.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division Nur-Ur-Rahman welcomed the government
decision for providing poor families across the country with ration card
under social safety net scheme.
He hoped that the initiative will help to reduce market price of rice and
flour.